Class of 2022

Abby Cordobes is an incoming senior at Silver Creek High School who aspires to use journalism to uplift art communities on her campus. Outside of journalism, she is involved in theater, cooking and K-Pop, just some of the creative activities that fuel her passions for humanities. Beyond school activities, she works as an aide at the Evergreen Library and imagines herself working at a small bookstore in the future. As her school newspaper’s upcoming editor-in-chief, she hopes to continue her interests in media while boosting the platform of the newspaper.

 

— Alli Wang

Alli Wang is a rising senior at Branham High School. She joined her school's journalism program last year to pursue her love of writing because she excelled in English at school. Alli loves all things STEM. She is an avid member of her school's robotics club, and is one of its only female and POC members. In her free time, she listens to and makes music to relax, and she’s a big fan of indie, vintage and K-pop girl groups. Curious, creative and opinionated, Alli hopes to study data journalism in college, to combine her love of numbers and writing. 

 

— Abby Cordobes

Angela Choi is an incoming junior at Branham High School. She’s passionate about social justice and hopes that she will be able to make a change in her community through journalism. Her first experience was writing for her school’s newspaper during her sophomore year. Angela plans on using lessons from Mosaic to better investigate local social justice issues for her school's paper. Outside school, Angela has participated  in the Athens Debate program since sixth grade. Angela also likes spending time with friends at her local boba shop after school and taking care of her cat, Nacho.

 

— Dacia Cobian

Dacia Cobian, an incoming senior at Downtown College Prep Alum Rock High School, has always loved telling stories through photography. The eldest of three siblings, she began with taking photos of her family. She also enjoys nature photography, which she uses to highlight the importance of animal welfare. Dacia hopes to continue taking photos at the University of Southern California’s film school. She wants to have her own production studio and company where she can provide young people with opportunities and access to film education. Dacia enjoys skating with her brother and writing mystery stories and screenplays.

 

— Angela Choi

Eryn Gandotra, a senior at Santa Clara High School, is exhilarated to be participating in the 2022 Mosaic program. Although she does not have much experience with journalism, Eryn enjoys talking to people and hopes to connect with others through her reporting. 

 

From a young age, Eryn has been strongly drawn to architecture, a passion she hopes to pursue in the future. This year, she will serve as a publicist for her school’s Key Club, a volunteering organization. Eryn is also a travel enthusiast, scrapbooking lover and a proud AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program student. 

 

— Hope Saena

Hope Saena, a senior attending Homestead High School, finds pure joy in journalism, as it allows her to surround herself with different people and experiences. She is looking forward to her third year in her school's journalism program, as she will serve as the production manager for her school's newspaper. When Hope is not working in journalism, you can probably find her surfing or listening to music — two of the many activities that provide her an escape from reality. Hope is excited for this new adventure with Mosaic, and can't wait to see what may come out of it.

 

— Eryn Gandotra

Jasmine Sessoms, an incoming Silver Creek High School sophomore, has been interested in writing since she won a writing contest in fourth grade. Since then, she has explored other hobbies such as playing games, making art, and practicing martial arts. Jasmine’s passions compelled her to join Silver Creek’s journalism class, where she gained a deeper appreciation for newswriting. Even though she enjoys English, Jasmine wants to major in psychology and work as a therapist. She said therapy encourages her to become a better person, and she wants to have the same positive influence on others. 

 

— Jay Nguyen

Jay Nguyen, a rising senior at Yerba Buena High School, is a non-binary K-pop and K-drama fan. They also are an anime enthusiast who enjoys collecting manga, thanks to the influence of their older brother. They greatly admire their older brother since he is someone they could always lean on for support. Inspired by a K-drama about a protagonist employed at a book publication company, Jay found their calling as an editor in their journalism class. They hope to pursue a major in English as they are an avid reader who finds satisfaction in editing. 

 

— Jasmine Sessoms

Jennifer Garcia Cabrera, a rising junior at Eastside College Preparatory School, loves her English classes and plans to take AP English Literature & Composition next school year. Jennifer is an avid reader, often completing romance or contemporary novels within a day. She also enjoys running in her free time, having participated in track and field at her school. Through Mosaic, Jennifer hopes to explore journalism through a broader setting, already possessing writing and reporting experience at Eastside’s high school newspaper. She aspires to explore issues that impact minority communities in San Jose and amplify their voices. 

 

— Khadeejah Khan

Khadeejah Khan is a rising junior at Santa Clara High School and co-editor-in-chief of her school newspaper. She is also vice president of her school’s community service club and co-officer of the Muslim Student Association. Outside school, she’s a member of the Santa Clara Youth Commission and of KQED’s Youth Advisory Board. She’s most proud of being in a segment of KQED’s radio show “Forum” about zero-waste living and environmental racism, her strongest passion. She enjoys painting, reading historical fiction and collecting plants. At Mosaic, she will focus on immigrant communities.

 

— Jennifer Garcia Cabrera

Lauren Linh Bui is a graduate of Oak Grove High School in San Jose. She is a bright student whose balance in life shows her great effort to meet all of her goals. Her plans after high school are to start her college career at De Anza College with the hope of transferring to the University of Southern California or New York University. When she was 16, Linh moved to the United States from Vietnam during the pandemic with her family of four. From there she was able to immerse herself into her passion of podcasting, government, and journalism while having a strong drive to create connections with peers and friends.

 

— Mia Felix-Ennis

Mia Felix-Ennis is a rising senior at Downtown College Prep with a strong interest in film and political science. She picks up her passion for politics from her time as president in her leadership class, where she scrutinizes and writes news stories about Stop AAPI Hate, Black Lives Matter, street vendors, and minorities who fought for their rights during the pandemic. In the future, she wants to study political science along with her lifelong enthusiasm in film at USC or UC Berkeley. Mia hopes to learn more about different points of view and how to communicate effectively through Mosaic. 

 

— Lauren Linh Bui

Saira Ahmed, a rising junior at Homestead High School, was born in the Bay Area but raised throughout Santa Clara County. Her love for photography began when she discovered the true beauty of the world through her camera lens. She is not only goal-driven but passionate about learning the stories of others. Saira hopes to pursue a career in photojournalism, and she is co-president of her school’s photography club. Her goal is to follow her love for photography and literature and someday work for National Geographic. 

 

— Scarlett Lopez-Rodriguez

Scarlett Lopez-Rodriguez, a rising junior at Cristo Rey High School, strongly identifies with her Mexican heritage. Scarlett is interested in debate, environmental issues and writing. She won first place in novice policy speaking in a Bay Area high school championship tournament and is co-captain of her school debate team. Scarlett uses creative writing to reflect on her experiences and keep herself present. In her journalistic writing, she hopes to shine a light on issues such as gun violence and the adverse effects of immigration policies. 

 

— Saira Ahmed

Steven Arreola is a passionate photographer for Overfelt High School in San Jose and looks for a shot at every angle. His photos have been recognized both by the school administration and his peers. An incoming junior, he is an athlete at heart and on Overfelt's cross-country and track and field teams. He trains in taekwondo and has earned a black belt, and practices with a bo staff. Steven wants to study medicine, specifically ophthalmology or psychology, at either San Jose State or Stanford University. At Mosaic, he hopes to further his photo skills.

 

— Theodore Nguyen

Theodore Nguyen is an incoming sophomore at Santa Clara High School. He was born in Hawaii and resides in San Jose. Theodore is an extremely passionate journalist who is interested in politics and hopes to attend Stanford University to pursue medicine or law. He is enjoying high school life and is part of his school’s journalism class. Theodore plays different instruments including the ukulele and the violin and recently participated in the San Jose Youth Symphony. He enjoys playing video games, hiking, and listening to jazz. 

 

— Steven Arreola Muñoz