2025-2026

When she’s not at school or working at Sun Singer, Pittenger enjoys a little retail therapy, usually at PacSun, Aerie, or American Eagle. After a long day, she loves unwinding with throwback TV shows like Gossip Girl or The O.C. (her cat is even named Blair!).

She’s been a Taylor Swift fan for as long as she can remember and still calls the Chicago Eras Tour stop the “best concert ever.” Pittenger is also super into pop culture and somehow always knows the latest celebrity drama before anyone else.

While she once wanted to be a journalist, her personal experience with her skin inspired a new goal: becoming a dermatology PA. She hopes to help others feel confident in their skin, just like her dermatologist helped her.

For now, she’s soaking up her senior year and looking forward to what comes next.

Valentina Gonzalez-Ahuerma

Valentina Gonzalez-Ahuerma is a junior at Urbana High School.

She was born in Mexico, and moved to the United States with her mom and older brother at age two. In fifth grade, inspired by her paternal family’s passion for volleyball, she joined the sport.

Quickly ensnared by the competitive nature (and lack of running) involved, Val began to pour hours into the court. Now, she plays both on the UHS team and a travel team, practicing almost year-round.

She discovered journalism her sophomore year, with encouragement from her older brother (who is currently Editor in Chief of The Prospectus, Parkland College’s newspaper).

Spurred on by the creativity and fun involved with writing for the paper, journalism has found its way onto her list of passions (not to be overshadowed by shopping, sleeping, or modern art).

She is now co-Editor-in-Chief of The Echo!

Lillian DiSanto

Lillian DiSanto is a 17-year-old senior triple athlete who’s making her way into the bright future of the medical field.

DiSanto was born in Kankakee and moved to Urbana when she was younger. She is the firstborn of her siblings and a strong, hardworking sister who enjoys taking care of them by cooking and baking for her friends and family.

She is an excellent triple-sport athlete who is working her way back to state in wrestling and plans to finally reach her goal of making it to state in track, with throwing as her main focus this year. She has also decided to try flag football with her friend to get the experience of playing a new sport in her last year.

DiSanto plans to become a doctor once she graduates, but is still deciding between pediatrics and other options. She likes to be hands-on and says she does not want to be stuck in the same routine every day.

Until then, she plans to keep her hands full of ideas and creativity through her yearbook and journalism experience at The Echo.

CJ Blanden

Urbana local, CJ Blanden, is all about family, football, and fun. He is a man known for following his passions and is a proud Tiger on the football team. Blanden dreams of playing at the college level, ideally somewhere with not only good athletic opportunities but also academics.

His ultimate goal is to become a Wealth Advisor for professional athletes, blending his passion for sports and business. Off the field, Blanden has an unexpected creative side which is why he is a perfect fit for The Rosemary. He enjoys music, chess, stand-up comedy, and even cooking, a hobby passed down to him from his mom.

Family is an important thing to Blanden. “We all show up for each other,” he says, capturing the love in his tight-knit family that fuels his drive.

Since junior year, Blanden has been a dedicated part of The Rosemary yearbook staff, providing creative ideas and energy.

Whether he’s working on plays or page layouts, Blanden puts love and hustle into everything. As he looks ahead to the future, he is ready to branch out of the C-U, probably moving down South near his family. When there, he is excited for new challenges while keeping his roots close to his heart.

Jalayah Irons

Senior Jalayah Irons is a kind, creative, and extravagant 17-year-old. She enjoys little jokes, harmless trolling on Roblox, and bringing out her creative side by creating different forms of art such as pottery, doodling, and collage.

Understandably, Irons doesn’t like ASMR and is quite the picky eater, but is willing to get past icky bananas to help her in the active side of her life as a volleyball player.

Playing since 8th grade, Irons loves the rush of a good pass or serve and is grateful for her positive and supporting teammates.

Irons is returning for her second year of journalism because it’s “really fun to look back on those moments and … once every now and then catch myself in them and, like, oop!”

Looking towards her future, Irons says she’s not all about money, but she definitely wouldn’t mind making lots of it. She can see herself using her organization skills in business or her compassion for nursing. NICU nursing is at the top of her list because despite being immune to baby fever herself, babies are still cute.

As a senior in high school, though, she’s just ready to enjoy her last year and make it a good one, continuing to write for The Echo and taking pictures for The Rosemary.

Jackie January

Jackie January is a friendly, outgoing senior who enjoys reading, volleyball, and spending time with friends.

From the moment she followed a friend to journalism class to the day she decided to join, she has enjoyed working with a team to create something beautiful for everyone to enjoy.

A student council member and natural leader, January is an important part of the UHS yearbook team.
As a swim instructor who loves working with kids, January will continue to be a vibrant presence in the yearbook community (despite leaving us for a new school!).

Micaela Jose Gomez

Meet senior Micaela Jose Gomez. She was born on July 7 in Guatemala and came to Urbana when she was just 1 month old.

She is 17 now and has grown into a spontaneous person. Her hobbies include “making things out of anything and cleaning things for no reason.”

Along with her spontaneous personality a fun fact about Micaela is that she likes music and reading. Her current favorites are K-Pop and historical fiction.

While there are a lot of things she likes, one thing she dreads is having to clock into her after school job.

This is Gomez’s last and final year in journalism. She is still undecided about what she is going to study after she graduates, but in the meantime she will continue to write for The Echo and take pictures for The Rosemary.

Khaleel Pelmore

Khaleel Pelmore is a very active senior. Born and raised in Champaign, he now calls Urbana his home.

He likes sports and spends some of his nights bowling. He’s been in track for four incredible years (talk about dedication!). He also plays football and although he doesn’t play basketball, he enjoys the sport. Though sports can get tough, he pushes through with the motivation to keep playing.

As the youngest of four siblings, he’s doing pretty well for himself. His family owns many real estate businesses and he plans to follow in that line of work to continue the legacy.

Pelmore says he still has a lot to learn about life, including how to stay humble. He’s focused on working hard, being independent, and always improving himself.

Leah Smith

Leah Smith was born and raised in Urbana and is a hardworking, driven student known for her excellent eye for design.

Smith spends most of her time working at her family’s restaurant, C-U favorite Smith Burger Co., and hopes to take it over in the future. For her, it isn’t just about the food, but about the communication with customers and the community it builds.

When she isn’t working, you can find Smith shopping, hanging out with friends, eating sushi, and buying tulips (especially if they’re pink!). But her favorite thing of all has to be listening to her favorite artist Drake. Smith admits she couldn’t live without “Hate Sleeping Alone” in her life.

Spending time with her 2-year-old little brother and her 10-year-old sister makes Smith’s days “ten times better;” she loves how she can guide her younger siblings through life.

Smith continues to keep a smile on her face as she pursues her dreams and aspirations, including owning her own business and providing for her family.

Trinity Dickens

Trinity Dickens is a junior who is ready to work!

She is 17 and her interests are fashion and music, with Brent Faiyaz getting the shout out as her #1 favorite artist.

Dickens owns a pet rabbit and she has morals. Money is her passion and her multitasking is efficient, working as a swim instructor while also doing nails and baking as side hobbies (and hustles).

Her plan for the future after high school is to become a real estate agent.

“I really want to give people the houses of their dreams,” she says. As a self-professed “people pleaser,” she also wouldn’t mind sidelining as a cosmetologist. It is the perfect fit since she already knows how to do nails, lashes, and hair.

We are so excited to see what she will create this year!

Olivia Hayes

Olivia Hayes is a junior here at Urbana High School who’s always up for trying new things. From joining the tennis team freshman year to competing in Science Olympiad, checking out Habitat for Humanity, and even joining journalism this year!

Originally from Memphis, Hayes moved to Urbana when her mom started a PhD program at the U of I. She dreams of becoming an urban planner one day, designing cities that make life easier and more fun (bonus points if there are lots of roller coaster roundabouts).

When not busy with school, Hayes can be found looping roller coasters with her dad, rewatching New Girl and Derry Girls with her mom, or listening to wave to earth on a playlist that has just about every genre you can think of.

She’s especially excited about the possibility of studying abroad her senior year to experience new cultures and explore how different cities around the world are built.

Until then, Hayes will continue to write for the Echo!

Sanaa Parker

Sanaa Parker is a junior known for her quick wit and great sense of humor. She’s passionate about giving back and plans to join more clubs focused on helping her hometown community.

In addition to being part of the UHS Echo, Parker enjoys spending time with friends and her dog, Brownie. She plans to try out for track again this year as a long-distance runner and long jumper, and she might even join the soccer team in the spring!

Looking ahead, Parker hopes to pursue a career as a cardiac sonographer, combining her passion for healthcare with her desire to make a positive impact in her community.
Until then, Parker will continue writing for the Echo!

Vincent Podroykin

“Oh, who is you?!!?” you might have heard in the halls or a classroom. Now we know the answer. It’s Vincent Podroykin!
He’s the talk of the town, and after watching 340 movies in the last eight months, he knows a thing or two about taste.
Getting to know him, his favorite place to shop is Amazon because it has everything you need and deals 24/7.
When Podroykin graduates high school, he hopes to work in a calm environment. He’s not sure what job yet, but he wants one that’s easy and smooth sailing.

He also plans to attend UCLA having always dreamed of living in Los Angeles. He is beyond excited to pursue that goal.

When asked what’s most important in his life, he simply said, “My life.” He values it like no other. And is going to make the most of it!

Ananyah Tangmunarunkit

Ananyah Tangmunarunkit, born and raised in Urbana, is a 16-year-old junior who, like many others, focuses on finding a balance between school and her personal life.

In school, Tangmunarunkit is a high-achieving student, participating in Science Olympiad, PTSA, and the Habitat for Humanity Club, just a few of the experiences that have shaped who she is today. Her hobbies and interests, including music, animation, thrilling activities with friends, tennis, and a love for animals (especially her dog Kiwi), make her both dedicated and compassionate.

Tangmunarunkit recently joined the yearbook as an opportunity to learn a new skill, spend time with friends, and create lasting memories.

As a junior, she is still exploring what her future may hold, but she continues to find joy and balance in her academics and personal interests.

Madisyn Evans

Madisyn Evans is a 14-year-old freshman who was born on March 29, 2011. She enjoys reading, sleeping, and writing.

Evans is originally from scorching hot Arizona, but when she turned five she moved to Illinois, where the heat feels pretty much the same.

Making the move with her were her three cats: Lit Bit, Junior, and Princess.
When she grows up, she plans to become an author because of her love for reading and writing. This is also why she chose to take journalism as one of her classes.

Outside of her dreams of being an author, she loves spending time with her close friends. This is her first year in journalism, and she plans to continue writing for The Echo.

Elena Ortiz

From living in Spain for 11 years to moving to the U.S. just two weeks ago, freshman Elena Ortiz is ready and excited for this new experience.

Ortiz has lived in three different parts of the world: Spain for 11 years, London for a few months, and now the U.S.

She and her family moved to Urbana, Illinois, because her mom received a job at Urbana Middle School, and they plan to stay for Ortiz’s entire high school career.

She enjoys all types of sports, but volleyball is definitely her favorite. While in Spain, she played as a libero, and she is continuing her passion for the sport by playing for the Urbana Tigers volleyball team.

Although volleyball is her top sport, her love for animals comes in a close second. Ortiz has one cat, Lolo, who she considers her best friend through and through.
“If I meet you and you don’t like animals, especially cats, I don’t like you,” she says.

Ortiz also enjoys meeting new people while keeping her friends in Spain close, often talking to them on the phone.

After high school, Ortiz plans to return to Spain, though she is still deciding what she wants to study. In the meantime, she is excited to write for the UHS Echo.

Tristan Tanta

Freshman Tristan Tanta has lived in places as far away as Romania and as close as Chicago, but no matter where he is, his passion remains the same: chess.

One of his proudest accomplishments was earning fifth place at the Greater Chicago Chess Championship around age 10, and he now aims to achieve a chess rating of 1500.
But that doesn’t mean that is all he’s about.

Tanta’s other hobbies and interests include soccer, basketball, creative writing, Rubik’s cubing, and cross country. He also loves dogs, cats, books, movies, trivia, and cooking (whew!). In the future, you might see him pursuing an unusual goal: lockpicking.

Though he may not be a fan of the Packers or baking, Tanta’s unique blend of curiosity, drive, and creativity makes him stand out wherever he goes.

Gabriel Vicencio

Gabriel Vicencio is a freshman who enjoys playing games online, especially GTA on his PS5. He is also a member of the school soccer team and dreams of becoming a professional soccer player, hoping to play around the world as a striker or midfielder.

His love for soccer started when his parents signed him up at a young age, and he has been passionate about the sport ever since.

Outside of soccer, Gabriel is an animal lover. He already has two cats, a dog, and two turtles, and he plans to add one more cat to his growing menagerie.

In addition to his hobbies and sports, Gabriel is excited to explore his creativity and interests through writing for the UHS Echo.