Our Team
2026-2027
Marguerite Underdown, Editor, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Marguerite Underdown is an eighth grader and the editor of the GP. She’s in her third year of the Griffin Post and GATE. She is thirteen years old and has a younger brother named CK and two younger sisters named Janie and Hallie. This year, she’s doing cross country, vocal and piano lessons, a songwriting club, and is helping out at a theater club for elementary and students. Marguerite loves music, church, reading, and playing the flute in Advanced Band. During the summer, she loves high ropes courses, ziplining, and tubing, and in the winter she skis up north.
Alice Zhang, Novel Notes All Ages, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Alice Zhang is currently a sixth grader at Avondale GATE Magnet School. She started going to this school when she was in third grade. She has an older sister who just graduated from Avondale GATE and is now a freshman at Troy High. Alice is in Honors Algebra 2 math this year. Both her and her sister have been in advanced math ever since they started going to this school. Her favorite special is art. Her favorite subject is geography. Her three favorite colors are blue, purple, and pink.
Ankit Padhi, Sports, 7th Grade
2026-2027
Ankit Padhi is a sports writer for the Griffin Post. He is 12 years old and is in 7th grade. He enjoys playing baseball and tennis. He enjoys making Legos and playing the piano. He enjoys reading books and free drawing. He has been at GATE since second grade. He enjoys watching movies and playing video games. Ankit Padhi is excited to write for the Griffin Post this year.
Arya Rao, New Sciences and Technologies, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Arya Rao is a first year Griffin Post member. This year, he’ll be taking on the brand new section of New Sciences and Technologies! His hobbies include sports, cooking, and most importantly, writing. Arya likes to play board games and video games with family or friends. He also enjoys listening to music, biking long trails, and going on trips with his family. He is very excited to contribute to the Griffin Post and make his mark as a new member.
Avira Karthik, Seasonal Topic, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Avira Karthik is an 8th grader in her 5th year at Avondale GATE. This is her 3rd year with the Griffin Post. She is 13 years old and has a younger sister named Aanya. Things that Avira loves are running cross country and track, playing saxophone, and singing. Additionally, she also enjoys skiing, hiking, swimming, writing and reading. She is super excited to write for the Seasonal Topic section with Leila Litkouhi this year!
CK Underdown, Around the World with the GP, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Cameron “Ck” Underdown is a 6th grader who is writing Around the World with the Griffin Post for the school newspaper and has 3 sisters (One of them is the editor of the Griffin Post) and a leopard gecko who is over a year old. Ck loves playing baseball, basketball and chess. He also loves the book series Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, The Mysterious Benedict Society, Big Nate, Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Wilderlore. Ck wants to write for the Griffin Post because he wants to help show the school about different cities for Around the World with the Griffin Post. He is very interested in history and what we can learn from it. He hopes to be a very good writer for the Griffin Post and to be truthful about his writing.
Carolina Rodriguez-Garza, Your Next Watch, 7th Grade
2026-2027
Carolina Rodriguez Garza is 13 years old, in 7th grade, and this is her 5th year at GATE. She loves reading, Star Wars, cooking, and comic books. She plays trumpet in the school band, and piano and guitar at home. She plays 1st base softball, and has finished watching the Marvel Cinematic Universe and is now waiting for Avengers: Doomsday. She speaks English and Spanish, and is very excited to be in the Griffin Post this year!
Edrich Williams, Debate, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Edrich Williams is currently a 6th grade student and will be writing for the debate section in the Griffin Post. This is his fourth year attending GATE and his favorite subjects are reading, math and history. He is an avid music fan and loves listening to and playing music. Currently, he plays saxophone in the school band, can also play trumpet, and has varied taste in musical artists which he loves to see in concert when the opportunity presents itself. Outside of music and school, Edrich enjoys playing basketball, and is a part of the Avondale FTC (#25099) and FRC (#3538) robotics teams. Residing in Oakland Township, his family consists of his mom, his dad, and his hairy mini Dachshund dog/sister Bella. He is excited for this year's Griffin Post and hopes you enjoy reading the debate section!
Aakriti Asawa, This Day in History, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Aakriti Asawa is an 8th grader in her first year at Avondale GATE, as well as her first year in the Griffin Post. She is 13 years old. She has one sibling who is in 3rd grade at Avondale GATE. Aakriti enjoys playing the violin and piano, as well as sports. She does gymnastics and basketball. She also enjoys swimming. She is excited to write for This Day in History!
Ishani Thakur, Novel Notes Older Readers, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Ishani Thakur, an 8th grader, is a writer for the Novel Notes Older Readers section of the Griffin Post, is excited to start her second year on the team. This is her sixth year at Gate, and she's looking forward to a great year ahead. Outside of the newsroom, Ishani loves creative hobbies. She enjoys drawing, writing, and crocheting. She's also a big reader and often spends time in her room with a good book. Ishani had won the RHPL Battle of the Books in 2024 and the GATE Battle of the Books (tied) alongside some of the current 8th grade Griffin Post Members. She’s eager for a successful school year and hopes you’ll enjoy her book recommendations and share her passion for reading.
Leila Litkouhi, Seasonal Topic, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Leila Litkouhi is in 8th Grade at Avondale GATE Magnet School, and this is her 2nd year in the Griffin Post. She is thirteen years old and has a younger brother named Daniel. Leila is excited to be writing the Seasonal Topic with Avira. She loves running in cross country and track, playing the French Horn, and anything related to the Lord of the Rings. Also, she has a mischievous cat named Luna who loves pouncing on people at 5 in the morning.
Mihir Kapoor, Games, 7th Grade
2026-2027
Mihir Kapoor is currently in 7th grade and it is his 6th year at Gate. He writes for the games section in the Griffin Post, being part of the 26-27 Griffin Post team. . He enjoys many sports such as tennis, chess, and many others. He lives with his parents, his younger sister, and his dog. He is currently learning to speak Spanish. He also does robotics during the Winter. He likes to laugh and hang out with friends. At school, his favorite subjects are math. His favorite times are when he wins a chess tournament, wherever it may be. You can find him most of the time at his house, or at school. He enjoys writing for the Griffin Post and he hopes that everyone likes the articles he writes.
Nandini Patel, Words of Wisdom, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Nandini Patel is a friendly, outgoing, and creative person who enjoys spending time with the people she cares about, trying new things, and making new memories. She participates in dance, soccer, and cross country, which have taught her the importance of teamwork, dedication, and pushing herself to improve. Outside of sports, Nandini enjoys writing, listening to music, being creative, and finding new interests to explore. She likes expressing herself through the things she does and is always looking for ways to grow and improve. She is someone who values her friendships and family, enjoys having fun, and tries to bring a positive attitude wherever she goes. Nandini is excited to continue growing, trying new things, and creating experiences she can look back on.
Rosalie Beach, Day In the Life Of, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Rosie is currently writing for the Day in the Life Of section. She is a sixth grader in Ms. Syme’s advisory. Her favorite class is drama. She lives with her Mom and Dad and has two dogs (Millie and Luna), a gecko (Gabrielle), and a rabbit (Lucky). Some of her hobbies include theater and soccer. She loves to read and write, and her favorite book series is Wings of Fire. One of her MANY favorite foods is sushi and cheesecake. She also collects themed dangly earrings for EVERYTHING!
Shivam Patel, 5 Interesting Facts About the World, 7th Grade
2026-2027
Shivam Patel is a writer in the Griffin Post, now continuing his second year writing for the newsletter. He has been a student at Avondale Gate for over 5 years, currently in his fifth year. He pursues a few hobbies, including reading, writing, sketching. As the author of FIFAW, he believes in the immense power of fun facts, and wishes to bring the gift of learning to the readers of the Griffin Post, 1 fact at a time. Now in 7th grade, he still enjoys sharing knowledge in a frivolously fun manner, and continues to play ping pong, tennis, badminton, and pickleball. He enjoys school in general – specifically science. He is bilingual, speaking both Gujarati and English. He delves into LEGO Technic builds as a pastime, creating gearboxes and steering systems from simple plastic parts. He enjoys writing for all the readers of the Griffin Post, and holds much anticipation for the future. Check out ‘Five Interesting Facts About the World’, under the ‘More’ tab to see more of his work!
Yukthika Manepalli, Novel Notes Older Readers, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Yukthika Manepalli, a contributor to this year's Griffin Post, is enthusiastic about being part of the school newspaper. She is excited to write for the Novel Notes: Older Ages section and previously contributed to the Seasonal Topic. She is eager to engage with our school spirit and further develop her writing skills. Yukthi enjoys various sports, with tennis being her favorite. She is currently in her second year of participating on the Avondale Buzz tennis team. She is in 8th grade and is a member of NJHS. She is almost always seen with her headphones in. Her favorite genre is rap though she enjoys some pop as well. She has an older sibling who is currently a sophomore in the University of Michigan, and many friends she can’t wait to spend the rest of the school year with.
Nina Vinay, Debate, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Nina Vinay, 6th grader, on the debate slot of the Griffin Post and She is 11 years old, and is someone who loves Baking, Painting, reading, and anything that involves making a mess, she has 1 older sister, her favorite color is black, She plays trombone for intermediate band, She loves Demon slayer, Percy Jackson, Poems, sketching, Baking, and painting. She is an extreme nerd when it comes to books, and Lego’s. Her favorite animal is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
Nishika Gadikota, Games, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Nishika Gadikota is contributing to the Game section of the Griffin Post for the second time. Currently, she is 12 years old and in eighth grade. This is her third year at Gate and her second year writing for the Griffin Post. She has a younger brother in first grade who attends Woodland Elementary. Nishika enjoys playing tennis and chess and has participated in numerous tournaments for both sports. She also loves listening to music, with favorite artists including Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter. Additionally, Nishika plays the flute in the Advanced Band. She is excited to continue contributing to the Griffin Post this year and hopes to make a positive impact through her work on the school newspaper.
Elsa Ren, Dear Griffin Post, 7th Grade
2026-2027
Elsa writes the Dear GP section the the Griffin Post. She is currently in 7th grade and this her 4th year at GATE. She enjoys drawing and writing during her free time. Elsa plays the flute as a part of the GATE advanced band, she also plays the piano. Elsa has a little brother in 5th grade (also in GATE). Sadly this little brother does not read her articles. Elsa is bilingual and speaks Chinese and English. She really likes watching Demon Slayer (seriously, it’s one of her favorite things) and listening to music. This is her 2nd year in the griffin post.
Tushar Ravula, Sports, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Tushar is an 8th grader who plays for the Avondale Middle School team and is a starting kick player. He enjoys playing basketball and NBA 2K. Tushar follows sports and has a competitive side to pretty much everything. He also enjoys spending time with his friends and family. Some fun facts about Tushar are that he likes trying new foods, enjoys listening to music, and is always looking for a challenge.
Dylan Carlin, Sports, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Dylan Carlin is an 8th grade student at GATE who is working on the sports section of the GP with Tushar Ravula. He enjoys playing basketball with his friends on his team and runs a fantasy football league every year with the kids in 8th grade. He also enjoys chess and has been playing it since he was 4 years old. Dylan is aspiring to become an actor when he is older and attends the prestigious Interlochen Arts Academy Camp in the summertime. Dylan has a relatively big family with four siblings and 3 dogs across his moms and dads houses.
Amaira Dive, Day in the Life Of, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Amaira Dive is a 6th grader and a new addition to The Griffin Post. She has a little brother named Riaan, who keeps life interesting at home. Outside of school, Amaira spends her time writing, crocheting, reading, and playing sports. She enjoys being creative and trying new things. Amaira is excited to be part of The Griffin Post and looks forward to sharing her ideas and stories with everyone!
Angela Seuffert, Comic Strip, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Angie Seuffert is a 6th grader who enjoys animating, art, and creating stories. She is inspired by many creators, such as Alan Becker, Edd Gould, and many others. She spends her free time animating, drawing, or procrastinating. Angie also plays two instruments (piano and trombone)!
Elinor Fails, Color Outside the Lines, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Elinor Fails is a seventh grader at GATE Magnet School. She loves reading and writing, as well as tap dancing, playing clarinet, and being in National Juniors Honor Society. She is really excited to be a part of the Griffin Post this year!
Grace Wang, The Green Corner, 6th Grade
2026-2027
​Grace Wang has been at GATE since 5th grade, and she is now in 7th grade. This year, she is writing for The Green Corner section of the Griffin Post. She has been playing chess, one of her main hobbies, for approximately four years. Her favorite animal is the flamingo, and so of course her favorite color is flamingo pink. In her free time, she likes rock climbing, baking and cooking for her family and friends, and creating art. Grace is excited to write for the Griffin Post this year and hopes that everyone will enjoy it!
Ishwari Reji, Dear Griffin Post, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Ishwari Reji is a 6th grader who enjoys scriptwriting, anime [preferably Demon Slayer], reading, and being incredibly dramatic. She plays the tuba for intermediate band, loves sushi, and simply can’t get enough of BTS and their music. She writes for the Dear Griffin Post section and she is so excited to be writing for the GP!
Stella Barr, The Wild Side, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Stella Barr is a writer of the Griffin Post. She writes for the Wild Side section. Her hobbies are reading, writing, and drawing. In her free time, she likes to watch Unstable SMP, Minecraft ARGs, or read Warrior Cats. In band, she plays clarinet. She lives with her parents, her brother, and her dog.
Yumo Jiang, Novel Notes Older Ages, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Yumo Jiang is an 8th grader writing for the Novel Notes: Older Readers section. This is her fifth year at GATE and her second year writing for the Griffin Post. Some of Yumo’s hobbies include listening to music, playing tennis, drawing, and painting. She has been playing the piano for nine years and plays the clarinet in the Avondale GATE Advanced Band. Some interesting facts about her include that she has two younger sisters and can speak Chinese.
Ester Padelova, Novel Notes All Ages, 6th Grade
2026-2027
Ester Padelova is a new addition to the Griffin Post. She loves animals, books, and plays lots of sports! Ester was born in the Czech Republic, and speaks the language fluently. She has an older brother, and a dog named Charlie. Going to concerts is one of her favorite things to do, and she has gone to 8 so far! Ester is in 6th grade and is 11 years old, but soon to be 12! She actually used to do gymnastics, then did archery for a while, but now plays soccer and volleyball. Her favorite artists/bands are Adela, Sombr, The Neighborhood, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Harry Styles, and Tate McRae (she listens to A LOT of music).
Everlee Chmielewski, Color Outside the Lines, 7th Grade
2026-2027
Everlee Chmielewski is a writer for the art competitions that have been added to the Griffin Post. She loves books and video games and will drop everything to rant about Wings of Fire, Warrior Cats, Subnautica, Hollow Knight, or Poppy Playtime. When she’s not obsessing over video games, she’s outside writing with her chicken, Elsa. She also enjoys coding and animating, and loves to draw her favorite characters, again, from video games.
Akhil Vennelakanti, Music, 7th Grade
2026-2027
Akhil Vennelakanti is 11 years old and a 7th-grader in his fifth year at Avondale GATE Magnet School. Now in his second year publishing for the Griffin Post, he is currently working on the Music articles, partially due to his love for classical music. He is still a percussionist in the GATE Advanced Band, and he likes playing Minecraft, the piano, and the drums. He loves going outside (when the weather is nice) and going for walks. Without siblings or pets, he does not enjoy being at home all that much; he would prefer going somewhere and spending time with others rather than staying cooped up at home. Additionally, he is a Hindu who understands Telugu, his family’s mother tongue. Nonetheless, he takes pride in being part of this incredible club, and he is excited to share the many facts he learns throughout the year with any of his lovely readers.
Emily McKelvey, Advertising, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Emily Mckelvey is an 8th grader at Avondale Gate Magnet school and she is in her 7th year at GATE. This is her first year in the Griffin Post and she is excited to be the Griffin Post’s Advertiser. Emily is 13 years old and has 3 siblings. She enjoys listening to music and watching sports. (Go lions!) This year Emily is participating in advanced band as a flute, travel soccer, and track.
Vivaan Jain, Games, 8th Grade
2026-2027
Vivaan Jain is an 8th grader working on the Game Section in the Griffin Post in the year of 2026-2027. He enjoys playing chess, tennis, and doing math. He is also a cabinet member in NJHS. This is his first year in the griffin post, and his 7th grade in GATE. He has traveled to many countries, including India, Australia, Singapore and more. After school Vivaan takes chess class, tennis class and piano class. He likes to play outside a lot, and plays everyday with his friends. He is excited to join the Griffin Post, and he looks forward to writing the Game Section!
History
Previous Editors
Brodie Silles, Editor, 8th Grade
2025-2026
Brodie Silles is an 8th grader who enjoys reading, gaming, and writing. Brodie loves animals, monkeys in particular being his favorite. He is a huge nerd and has read hundreds of books. Some of his favorite book series are Harry Potter, My Hero Academia, One Piece, The Lord of the Rings, and Nevermoor. He also plays the cello.
Luis Nava
2023-2025
Luis Nava, the editor of the Griffin Post, is beginning his second year as the editor of the Griffin Post, and he is excited to play his part in improving an already wonderful newspaper. This is Luis’ fifth year at Avondale GATE, and his third as a part of the Griffin Post team. Luis enjoys many sports, including cross country, basketball, and track. He also loves music, both listening and playing it (he plays the saxophone in the school band). Luis is bilingual; he speaks English and Spanish fluently. He is excited for the school year, and hopes that you share his enthusiasm!
Aly Marx
2021-2023
Hey there! My name is Aly and this is the second year I have had the privilege of being editor of The Griffin Post. I am in 8th grade and this is my 6th year at the Avondale GATE Magnet School and my fourth year writing for the GP. I have a little brother, Liam, in 5th grade and a little sister, Julia, in 2nd grade, both going to GATE as well. Some of my favorite things to do are read, write and sing! Outside of school, I play soccer, piano, and take tap dance and voice lessons. I thoroughly enjoy acting as well and will audition for this year's school play. An interesting fact about me is that I have lived in London, England for two years. I hope you like the Griffin Post! Happy reading!
Luca Nowinski
(Founder)
2019-2021
Hi everyone! I have been at GATE for 3 years and counting and I am so excited to be continuing my leadership of the GATE Gazette Jr [that was The Griffin Post's original name]! This has been a passion that I have found within the past year, and I am so happy that I get to share it with all of you for the second straight year! Some of the things I like to do in my free time are robotics, going outside, playing any sports video game, and watching football. I am a big Detroit Lions and Michigan fan, which is sometimes rewarding and other times very disappointing. Also, my family is from Italy, and I love to go there and have all types of good food. My favorite subject is Math, because of all the new ways to solve just one problem. I hope that you can enjoy this website, as our team has worked very hard to get this moving.
Previous Griffin Post Teams
Griffin Post Team 2025-2026
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Brodie Silles (Editor)
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Mr. Kaczanowski (Supervisor)
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Austin Berens (Games)
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Alexander Dippel (Sports)
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Samuel Elias (Debate)
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Levi Enderle (Your Next Play)
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Nishika Gadikota (Games)
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​Yumo Jiang (Novel Notes All Ages)
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Ananya Karandikar (Novel Notes Older Readers)
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Ariana Larson (Short Story)​
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Leila Litkouhi (Music)
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Yukthika Manipalli (Seasonal Topic)
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Dhruv Duravasan (Debate)
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Declan Mitchell (Around the World with the Griffin Post)
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​Shivam Patel (FIFAW)
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Caroliana Rodriguez-Garza (Your Next Watch)
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Ishani Thakur (Novel Notes Older Readers)
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Marguerite Underdown (Novel Notes All Ages)
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Freyr Wang (Words of Wisdom)
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Elsa Ren (Dear Griffin Post)
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Avira Karthik (Seasonal Topic)
Griffin Post Team 2023-2024
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Maya Lovria (Novel Notes)
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Jack Mullen (Novel Notes)
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Akruti Padhi (Around the World with the Griffin Post)
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Rohan Pavuluri (This Day in History)
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Adyoth Sural (Jollification Jumble)
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Eduardo Velasquez (Advertiser)
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Lucas Wantuck (Ten Interesting Facts About the World
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Kevin Yin
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Luis Nava (Editor)
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Mr. Kaczanowski (Supervisor)
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Shraeya Mehta (Assitant Editor)
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Priya Arun (Advertiser)
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Sidney Billings (Sports)
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Anna Ferrero (Advertiser)
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Hasrhika Gidwani (Personalizing P2)
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Margaret Goetz (Around the School)
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Abhisri Gummula (Around the School)
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Riya Gupta (Seasonal Topic)
Griffin Post Team 2022-2023
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Aly M. (Editor)
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Mr. Kaczanowski (Supervisor)
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Priya A. (Contest Coordinator)
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Harshika G. (Personalizing P2)
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Evie G. (Advertising)
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Riya G. (This Day in History)
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Max J. (Around the School)
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Shraeya M. (Around the School)
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Maya M. (Advertising)
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Jack M. (Novel Notes)
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Luis N. (Seasonal Topic)
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Carson P. (Novel Notes)
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Nolan P. (Around the School)
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Lake S. (Sports)
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Adyoth S. (Jollification Jumble)
Griffin Post Team 2021-2022
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Aly M. (Editor, Novel Notes)
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Benjamin D. (Advertiser, Contests, Sports)
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Carson P. (Novel Notes)
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Julia G. (Advertiser)
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Julia T. (Seasonal Topic)
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Lillian A. (Advertiser)
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Livia M. (Jollification Jumble)
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Lucy M. (Novel Notes)
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Max J. (Around the School)
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Michael Bigelow (Supervisor)
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Nolan P. (Around the School)
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Varsha L. (Around the School)
Griffin Post Team 2020-2021
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Aly M. (Novel Notes)
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Adyoth S. (Politics)
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Carson P. (Student Work)
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Julia T. (Seasonal Topic)
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Livia M. (Jollification Jumble)
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Luca N. (Editor)
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Michael Bigelow (Supervisor)
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Olivia L. (Parent Careers)
Griffin Post Team 2019-2020
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Annabel A. (Seasonal Topic)
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Aly M. (Book Reviews)
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Blair B. (Around the School)
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Charlotte C. (Game)
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Claire R. (Game)
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Hasan F. (Clubs)
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Katie M. (Teacher Interviews)
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Krishna M. (Around the School, Pictures)
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Liam M. (Jokes/Riddles)
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Lilly M. (Riddles)
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Livia M. (Clubs)
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Luca N. (Editor, Sports)
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Michael Bigelow (Supervisor)
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Olivia L. (Student Work)
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Sarah L. (Teacher Interviews)