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The Founders
The Incandescent Review was founded by artist & writer Ariel Kim as the CEO & Editor-in-Chief and a founding executive board committee of the following members:
Esther Kim (Founding Creative Writing Director), Sofia Miller (Founding Art & Design Director), Ocean Wei (Founding Critical Writing Team Director), Minnie Zhang (Founding Director of The Incandescent Studio), Ethan Phan (Founding Finance Manager), Samson Zhang (Founding Video & Spoken Word Director ), Emily Huang (Founding General Manager), and Annie Guo (Founding Director of the Marketing Team).
The Incandescent Review has only been made possible thanks to the strenuous contributions of our alumni.
Think you'd make a great addition to the team?
Executive Board
Kevin Zhu
Co-CEO & Editor-in-Chief
Kevin Zhu is a 16-year-old Chinese-American writer and musician from Long Island, New York. As a poet and journalist, his work has been nationally recognized by the Scholastic Writing Awards and is a SAS scholarship recipient for the University of Virginia Young Writers Workshop. As a pianist, he has performed at global venues which include Carnegie’s Weill and Zankel Halls, Lincoln Center, Spain, and France. A COUNTERCLOCK Arts Collective Music Fellow and Julliard School of Music precollege student, Kevin is an alum of the Ellipsis Poetry Workshop and the Manhattan School of Music. He is often confused with a college student going through a quarter-life crisis.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Kevin Zhu)
Kevin Zhu is a 16-year-old Chinese-American writer and musician from Long Island, New York. As a poet and journalist, his work has been nationally recognized by the Scholastic Writing Awards and is a SAS scholarship recipient for the University of Virginia Young Writers Workshop. As a pianist, he has performed at global venues which include Carnegie’s Weill and Zankel Halls, Lincoln Center, Spain, and France. A COUNTERCLOCK Arts Collective Music Fellow and Julliard School of Music precollege student, Kevin is an alum of the Ellipsis Poetry Workshop and the Manhattan School of Music. He is often confused with a college student going through a quarter-life crisis.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Kevin Zhu)
Jennifer Baek
Co-CEO & Chief Manager
Born and raised in New York, Jennifer Baek is a Korean-American writer who is currently a junior at Jericho High School. In her spare time outside of the Incandescent, she can be found baking, going on walks with her friends and scouring the web for various lofi playlists. Jennifer is a Kenyon Young Writers Workshop alum and her work has been published or is forthcoming in The Heritage Review, The Red Pocket Magazine and many more. She hopes that you enjoy reading through all of the issues and blogs on our website and that you will join us in our journey to amplify youth voices.
Born and raised in New York, Jennifer Baek is a Korean-American writer who is currently a junior at Jericho High School. In her spare time outside of the Incandescent, she can be found baking, going on walks with her friends and scouring the web for various lofi playlists. Jennifer is a Kenyon Young Writers Workshop alum and her work has been published or is forthcoming in The Heritage Review, The Red Pocket Magazine and many more. She hopes that you enjoy reading through all of the issues and blogs on our website and that you will join us in our journey to amplify youth voices.
Katie Tian
Creative Writing Director
Katie Tian is a fifteen-year-old Chinese-American writer and journalist from New York. A Scholastic Art & Writing National Medalist and two-time Adelphi Quill Awards First Place winner, her work is published or forthcoming in Rising Phoenix Review, Blue Marble Review, and Eunoia Review, among others. She is an Ellipsis Writing Workshop alum and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of her school’s literary magazine Pegasus, as well as the Junior Managing Editor of her school newspaper The JerEcho. Apart from writing, she has various talents, such as singing in the shower and eating her weight in brown sugar boba bars. Her favorite things are peanut butter, her fat cat, and poetry (in that order).
Katie Tian is a fifteen-year-old Chinese-American writer and journalist from New York. A Scholastic Art & Writing National Medalist and two-time Adelphi Quill Awards First Place winner, her work is published or forthcoming in Rising Phoenix Review, Blue Marble Review, and Eunoia Review, among others. She is an Ellipsis Writing Workshop alum and currently serves as the Editor-in-Chief of her school’s literary magazine Pegasus, as well as the Junior Managing Editor of her school newspaper The JerEcho. Apart from writing, she has various talents, such as singing in the shower and eating her weight in brown sugar boba bars. Her favorite things are peanut butter, her fat cat, and poetry (in that order).
Ronnie Volman
Critical Writing Director
Ronnie is a 15 year old in San Diego, California. She's previously completed writing courses for Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, as she continues to develop her love for writing. In her free time, Ronnie enjoys reading novels, practicing piano, and watching a concerning amount of rom-coms on Netflix!
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Ronnie Volman)
Ronnie is a 15 year old in San Diego, California. She's previously completed writing courses for Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth, as she continues to develop her love for writing. In her free time, Ronnie enjoys reading novels, practicing piano, and watching a concerning amount of rom-coms on Netflix!
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Ronnie Volman)
Vicky Wang
Art & Website Design Director
Vicky Wang is a rising senior from Jericho, New York. She loves photography, design, and music. Her passion for design has helped earned her team a chance to compete at state level competitions. She also loves photography and likes to spend time snapping photos of her setting. When she is not creating, Vicky loves playing badminton, catching up on dramas, and of course watching animal videos until 3 am.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Vicky Wang)
Vicky Wang is a rising senior from Jericho, New York. She loves photography, design, and music. Her passion for design has helped earned her team a chance to compete at state level competitions. She also loves photography and likes to spend time snapping photos of her setting. When she is not creating, Vicky loves playing badminton, catching up on dramas, and of course watching animal videos until 3 am.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Vicky Wang)
Rhea Dharia
Video & Spoken Word Director
Rhea is a sophomore that attends Jericho High School. Outside of school, She enjoys softball, baking, writing, and music. One of her poems, called “Summer,” was published in a book and online.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Rhea Dharia)
Rhea is a sophomore that attends Jericho High School. Outside of school, She enjoys softball, baking, writing, and music. One of her poems, called “Summer,” was published in a book and online.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Rhea Dharia)
Ada Wang
Marketing Director
Ada Wang is a 16 year old from Long Island, New York. She's currently a junior at Jericho High School. In her free time, she enjoys binge watching C-dramas and listening to music. She has held various leadership positions, which have all provided her with strong and varied experiences in business, specifically marketing.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Ada Wang)
Ada Wang is a 16 year old from Long Island, New York. She's currently a junior at Jericho High School. In her free time, she enjoys binge watching C-dramas and listening to music. She has held various leadership positions, which have all provided her with strong and varied experiences in business, specifically marketing.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Ada Wang)
Carolyn Wang
Fundraising & Finance Director
Carolyn Wang is a sophomore at Jericho High School. She is currently 15 years old. She enjoys listening to music and playing volleyball.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Carolyn Wang)
Carolyn Wang is a sophomore at Jericho High School. She is currently 15 years old. She enjoys listening to music and playing volleyball.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Carolyn Wang)
Min Hur
Fundraising & Activism Director
Min Hur is a current junior at Jericho High School. She has been playing music since elementary school and has played at many different concert halls. Although experience in writing and business fields were limited, her hard work and organization allows her to take on difficult challenges.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Min Hur)
Min Hur is a current junior at Jericho High School. She has been playing music since elementary school and has played at many different concert halls. Although experience in writing and business fields were limited, her hard work and organization allows her to take on difficult challenges.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Min Hur)
Noreen Chen
General Manager, Reader & Contributor
Noreen Chen is a Chinese-American high schooler from New York. She enjoys
experimenting in the arts, especially writing, drawing, painting, and graphic design. She strives to educate herself and incorporate various social issues into her works. When she’s not obsessing over an occasional kdrama or Netflix show, she can be found listening to music and podcasts, bothering her siblings, or spending way too much time on Notes and Canva.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Noreen Chen)
Noreen Chen is a Chinese-American high schooler from New York. She enjoys
experimenting in the arts, especially writing, drawing, painting, and graphic design. She strives to educate herself and incorporate various social issues into her works. When she’s not obsessing over an occasional kdrama or Netflix show, she can be found listening to music and podcasts, bothering her siblings, or spending way too much time on Notes and Canva.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject Line – Attn: Noreen Chen)
Minnie Zhang
Incandescent Studio Founder & Director
Raised in Richmond, Virginia, Minnie Zhang is a Chinese-American writer and amateur astrologist studying at Brown University. Her work is published and/or forthcoming in The Lindenwood Review, Ephimiliar Journal, and The Best Teen Writing of 2020.
A passionate advocate for accessible education, she founded the Incandescent Studio to empower emerging writers with opportunities to expand their technical and creative skillsets while engaging with youth across the world.
Her favorite poem is "California" by Rafael Campo.
Contact: theincandescentstudio@gmail.com
Raised in Richmond, Virginia, Minnie Zhang is a Chinese-American writer and amateur astrologist studying at Brown University. Her work is published and/or forthcoming in The Lindenwood Review, Ephimiliar Journal, and The Best Teen Writing of 2020.
A passionate advocate for accessible education, she founded the Incandescent Studio to empower emerging writers with opportunities to expand their technical and creative skillsets while engaging with youth across the world.
Her favorite poem is "California" by Rafael Campo.
Contact: theincandescentstudio@gmail.com
Andrea Salvador
Incandescent Studio Curriculum Director
Andrea Salvador is a Filipino student and writer, split between Manila and Melbourne. Her work appears in [subliminal], Élan Literary Magazine, and Galliard International Review among others, while it has been recognized by Ringling College of Art + Design, Columbia College Chicago, and Interlochen Arts Academy. She has participated in creative writing programs hosted by Amherst College's The Common, UMass Amherst's Juniper Institute for Young Writers, and The Adroit Journal.
Andrea Salvador is a Filipino student and writer, split between Manila and Melbourne. Her work appears in [subliminal], Élan Literary Magazine, and Galliard International Review among others, while it has been recognized by Ringling College of Art + Design, Columbia College Chicago, and Interlochen Arts Academy. She has participated in creative writing programs hosted by Amherst College's The Common, UMass Amherst's Juniper Institute for Young Writers, and The Adroit Journal.
Ariel Kim
Founder & Advisor
Ariel Kim is a seventeen-year-old artist and writer. Through The Incandescent Review, she hopes to empower adolescents to express their honest, unapologetic identities as heirs to an uncertain world. Ariel’s work appears in or is forthcoming in The Adroit Journal, The National Poetry Quarterly, The Apprentice Writer, The Daphne Review, and Parallax Literary Magazine, among others. She is a finalist in the Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Competition, a three-time runner-up for the New York Times Summer Reading Contest, and a double National Scholastic Medalist.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject line – Attn: Ariel Kim)
Ariel Kim is a seventeen-year-old artist and writer. Through The Incandescent Review, she hopes to empower adolescents to express their honest, unapologetic identities as heirs to an uncertain world. Ariel’s work appears in or is forthcoming in The Adroit Journal, The National Poetry Quarterly, The Apprentice Writer, The Daphne Review, and Parallax Literary Magazine, among others. She is a finalist in the Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Competition, a three-time runner-up for the New York Times Summer Reading Contest, and a double National Scholastic Medalist.
Contact: editor@theincandescentreview.org (Subject line – Attn: Ariel Kim)
Creative Writing Team
Kristine Ma
Creative Writing Manager
Kristine Ma is a high school junior hailing from Michigan. She received two national gold medals and several regional recognitions from the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Her work is forthcoming from Bridge: The Bluffton University Literary Journal. Kristine is an editor for her school's award-winning literary magazine as well as the English section editor for her school's academic journal. She also loves music, and can be found listening to a variety of music, from Chopin and Ravel to Seventeen, 88rising, and anime openings. When she isn't writing, she can be found playing piano, hugging stuffed animals, watching anime, and dreaming.
Kristine Ma is a high school junior hailing from Michigan. She received two national gold medals and several regional recognitions from the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Her work is forthcoming from Bridge: The Bluffton University Literary Journal. Kristine is an editor for her school's award-winning literary magazine as well as the English section editor for her school's academic journal. She also loves music, and can be found listening to a variety of music, from Chopin and Ravel to Seventeen, 88rising, and anime openings. When she isn't writing, she can be found playing piano, hugging stuffed animals, watching anime, and dreaming.
Molly Green
Prose Reader & Contributor
Molly A. Green is a sophomore at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, Pennsylvania. She is a lover of words, metaphors, and small details. Her work has been recognized by the Lake Effect National High School Poetry Competition. She has been published in the literary magazines The Raven Review, The WEIGHT Journal, and Crêpe and Penn. Her interests include yoga, running, scrapbooking, portrait drawing, piano, crystal collecting, and all things magical.
Molly A. Green is a sophomore at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School in Midland, Pennsylvania. She is a lover of words, metaphors, and small details. Her work has been recognized by the Lake Effect National High School Poetry Competition. She has been published in the literary magazines The Raven Review, The WEIGHT Journal, and Crêpe and Penn. Her interests include yoga, running, scrapbooking, portrait drawing, piano, crystal collecting, and all things magical.
Chiara Caremoli
Prose Reader & Contributor
Chiara Caremoli is majoring in Media, Culture, and Communications and minoring in Creative Writing at NYU, planning to graduate in May 2023. Her interest in writing began in the fourth grade when she wrote a short story called “My Best Friend’s Horse," but sadly my literary work stopped there for many years. Her senior year in high school, her English teacher assigned everyone a creative short story project and her mind started racing with ideas. When she sat down and stared at the empty page on the computer, her fingers began clicking away at the keyboard and the blank page quickly filled. Chiara's goal is to become a politically and socially aware woman who is able to educate herself and her peers to create a more empathetic community through writing.
Chiara Caremoli is majoring in Media, Culture, and Communications and minoring in Creative Writing at NYU, planning to graduate in May 2023. Her interest in writing began in the fourth grade when she wrote a short story called “My Best Friend’s Horse," but sadly my literary work stopped there for many years. Her senior year in high school, her English teacher assigned everyone a creative short story project and her mind started racing with ideas. When she sat down and stared at the empty page on the computer, her fingers began clicking away at the keyboard and the blank page quickly filled. Chiara's goal is to become a politically and socially aware woman who is able to educate herself and her peers to create a more empathetic community through writing.
Alejandra Medina
Prose Reader & Contributor
Alejandra Medina is an undergraduate student at California State University, Los Angeles. Her writing has won a Scholastic Art and Writing Award and has been published in The Incandescent Review, Unpublished Magazine and The Collective Mag, with other publications forthcoming.
Alejandra Medina is an undergraduate student at California State University, Los Angeles. Her writing has won a Scholastic Art and Writing Award and has been published in The Incandescent Review, Unpublished Magazine and The Collective Mag, with other publications forthcoming.
Ashley Bao
Prose & Poetry Reader & Contributor
Ashley Bao is a Chinese-Canadian-American high school junior. She spends her
time writing and dreaming, mostly about cats. Her poetry and short fiction has appeared in Liminality, Strange Horizons, Cast of Wonders, and elsewhere.
Ashley Bao is a Chinese-Canadian-American high school junior. She spends her
time writing and dreaming, mostly about cats. Her poetry and short fiction has appeared in Liminality, Strange Horizons, Cast of Wonders, and elsewhere.
Shreya Vikram
Prose & Poetry Reader & Contributor
Shreya Vikram is a writer based in India. A Dorothy West Scholar, she has been recognised by the Adroit Prizes for Prose. Her work is forthcoming in Smokelong Quarterly, Cobalt Review, Ruminate and elsewhere. You can find more of her writing at shreyavikram.com.
Shreya Vikram is a writer based in India. A Dorothy West Scholar, she has been recognised by the Adroit Prizes for Prose. Her work is forthcoming in Smokelong Quarterly, Cobalt Review, Ruminate and elsewhere. You can find more of her writing at shreyavikram.com.
Fatema Rahaman
Poetry Reader & Contributor
Fatema Rahaman is a writer for the Incandescent Review. She’s passionate about all forms of writing, with poetry being her favorite. This interest translates into her winning a couple of regional contests on Long Island. But, she is also fond of painting and gardening. In the future, she aspires to live in the city, preferably with a cat.
Fatema Rahaman is a writer for the Incandescent Review. She’s passionate about all forms of writing, with poetry being her favorite. This interest translates into her winning a couple of regional contests on Long Island. But, she is also fond of painting and gardening. In the future, she aspires to live in the city, preferably with a cat.
Catherine Park
Poetry Reader & Contributor
Catherine Park is a senior at the Bergen County Academies in New Jersey. high school newspaper. She is a National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Gold Medalist and a recipient of the New Jersey Governor's Awards in Arts Education and has earned recognition from the Live Poets Society of NJ. Her work is forthcoming in Aerie International. Besides poetry, her passions include politics, international affairs, and advocacy, and she holds a strong interest in various social and cultural issues of the 21st century. In her free time, she enjoys reading (everything from news articles to YA novels), listening to lo-fi music, and watching Netflix documentaries.
Catherine Park is a senior at the Bergen County Academies in New Jersey. high school newspaper. She is a National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Gold Medalist and a recipient of the New Jersey Governor's Awards in Arts Education and has earned recognition from the Live Poets Society of NJ. Her work is forthcoming in Aerie International. Besides poetry, her passions include politics, international affairs, and advocacy, and she holds a strong interest in various social and cultural issues of the 21st century. In her free time, she enjoys reading (everything from news articles to YA novels), listening to lo-fi music, and watching Netflix documentaries.
Alana Adoll Brown-Davis
F&A Representative, Poetry Reader & Contributor
Alana Brown-Davis is a sixteen year old Mississippian on the verge of a Hulu anime addiction. She has rediscovered her love for Outkast and everything southern since the pandemic and is a proud country bumpkin. She is a current junior at South Pike High School where she participates in the band playing trumpet and mellophone. She aggravates her mother and friends on a regular basis and is currently learning how to drive which has been a very interesting ride. Pun intended.
Alana Brown-Davis is a sixteen year old Mississippian on the verge of a Hulu anime addiction. She has rediscovered her love for Outkast and everything southern since the pandemic and is a proud country bumpkin. She is a current junior at South Pike High School where she participates in the band playing trumpet and mellophone. She aggravates her mother and friends on a regular basis and is currently learning how to drive which has been a very interesting ride. Pun intended.
Enya Goonetilleke
Poetry Reader & Contributor
Enya is a sophomore at Bergen County Academies, a magnet high school in New Jersey. Most recently, her work has been published in Short Story UNC, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's literary magazine. She enjoys writing, reading, gymnastics, and playing with her dog, Logan. You can find her on Instagram @enya_grace_04.
Enya is a sophomore at Bergen County Academies, a magnet high school in New Jersey. Most recently, her work has been published in Short Story UNC, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's literary magazine. She enjoys writing, reading, gymnastics, and playing with her dog, Logan. You can find her on Instagram @enya_grace_04.
Laurel Reynolds
Poet
Laurel Reynolds is a 19 year old poet from Minnesota. Her work often explores queerness, mental health, trauma, and relationships. Her main goals with poetry are to write poems that would have helped her younger self and to write poems people can see some version of themselves in. As a disorganized Virgo, Laurel also loves poetry as a way to organize her thoughts. She has competed in the Be Heard Slam series since 2017, advancing to semifinals three times and advancing past finals once. She represented Minnesota on the Be Heard 19 cohort at Brave New Voices in 2019 where they made it to semifinals. Laurel’s poems have been published on The Current, Truartspeaks’ website, and in Truartspeaks’ anthology Be Heard, Dig Deep. She currently attends the University of Minnesota for Psychology and English.
Laurel Reynolds is a 19 year old poet from Minnesota. Her work often explores queerness, mental health, trauma, and relationships. Her main goals with poetry are to write poems that would have helped her younger self and to write poems people can see some version of themselves in. As a disorganized Virgo, Laurel also loves poetry as a way to organize her thoughts. She has competed in the Be Heard Slam series since 2017, advancing to semifinals three times and advancing past finals once. She represented Minnesota on the Be Heard 19 cohort at Brave New Voices in 2019 where they made it to semifinals. Laurel’s poems have been published on The Current, Truartspeaks’ website, and in Truartspeaks’ anthology Be Heard, Dig Deep. She currently attends the University of Minnesota for Psychology and English.
Rachel Alarcio
Prose Contributor
Rachel Alarcio is a 20-year-old poet who was born and raised in the eternal summer of Los Angeles, California. Their work has been recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, featured in two award-winning WriteGirl anthologies, included in Exposition Review, and displayed for millions of people in transit at LAX’s Terminal 7-8. She is currently working towards her B.A. in English from Kalamazoo College. Find them @raechillout on Instagram.
Rachel Alarcio is a 20-year-old poet who was born and raised in the eternal summer of Los Angeles, California. Their work has been recognized by the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, featured in two award-winning WriteGirl anthologies, included in Exposition Review, and displayed for millions of people in transit at LAX’s Terminal 7-8. She is currently working towards her B.A. in English from Kalamazoo College. Find them @raechillout on Instagram.
Tane Kim
Prose Contributor
Living in Westchester, New York, Tane is a Korean-American freshman in high school. He loves the communion of art more than anything, and enjoys writing poetry and prose. His work can be seen in various literary reviews and magazines; it has also been recognized by the American Library of Poetry and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In his free time, Tane can often be seen munching down some delicious foods and describing their tastes.(The next Anthony Bourdain?)
Living in Westchester, New York, Tane is a Korean-American freshman in high school. He loves the communion of art more than anything, and enjoys writing poetry and prose. His work can be seen in various literary reviews and magazines; it has also been recognized by the American Library of Poetry and the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In his free time, Tane can often be seen munching down some delicious foods and describing their tastes.(The next Anthony Bourdain?)
Critical Writing Team
Izzy Burgess
Critical Writing Manager
Izzy (she/her) is a 17-year-old pint-sized librarian currently residing in Idaho. She is a queer women's rights activist and POC ally with a passion for fashion and a disdain for bermuda shorts. If not at a library, you can find her at the theatre, most likely constructing a costume. She is a National Individual Event Tournament of Champions qualifier in speech and debate. Hire her for children's party entertainment, as her slight frame and pink hair make her resemble a fairy. Follow her @izzywritesthings on Instagram for more of her shenanigans.
Izzy (she/her) is a 17-year-old pint-sized librarian currently residing in Idaho. She is a queer women's rights activist and POC ally with a passion for fashion and a disdain for bermuda shorts. If not at a library, you can find her at the theatre, most likely constructing a costume. She is a National Individual Event Tournament of Champions qualifier in speech and debate. Hire her for children's party entertainment, as her slight frame and pink hair make her resemble a fairy. Follow her @izzywritesthings on Instagram for more of her shenanigans.
Vaishnavi Naidu
Journalism Editor & Research Strategist
Vaishnavi Naidu is a sophomore at NYU. She studies Journalism and Psychology and is a staff writer for Under The Arch, a student run magazine under Washington Square News that focuses on personal prose and poetry. She also co-hosts a radio show with WNYU 89.1 FM called Bollywood Beats in the New York area and is an on the ground reporter for The Rundown, WNYU’s Journalism podcast. In her free time, you’ll find her exploring New York City and or looking for a place to hang just one more memento up on her wall.
Vaishnavi Naidu is a sophomore at NYU. She studies Journalism and Psychology and is a staff writer for Under The Arch, a student run magazine under Washington Square News that focuses on personal prose and poetry. She also co-hosts a radio show with WNYU 89.1 FM called Bollywood Beats in the New York area and is an on the ground reporter for The Rundown, WNYU’s Journalism podcast. In her free time, you’ll find her exploring New York City and or looking for a place to hang just one more memento up on her wall.
Katie D'Angelo
Culture Review Editor & Critic
Katie D’Angelo is a 17-year-old high school senior, from Pelham, New York. She enjoys writing in her free time and runs her school's Creative Writing Club. She gets a lot of her inspiration from Greek mythology, which has been an interest of hers since elementary school. Katie currently has been published in many of her town’s newspapers and her school's literary magazine. Katie also enjoys playing dungeons and dragons and loves to read fantasy novels.
Katie D’Angelo is a 17-year-old high school senior, from Pelham, New York. She enjoys writing in her free time and runs her school's Creative Writing Club. She gets a lot of her inspiration from Greek mythology, which has been an interest of hers since elementary school. Katie currently has been published in many of her town’s newspapers and her school's literary magazine. Katie also enjoys playing dungeons and dragons and loves to read fantasy novels.
Victor Xia
Associate Editor & Columnist
Victor is a high school senior from Seattle, WA. His writing has appeared in Sine Theta Quarterly, Crashtest Mag, and the Eunoia Review, among others, and he is a first session alum of Kenyon Young Writers '19. He's also a dedicated filmmaker and believes storytellers should not limit themselves to one form; catch up with him (@vlctir) or his latest work (@lplne) on Instagram.
Victor is a high school senior from Seattle, WA. His writing has appeared in Sine Theta Quarterly, Crashtest Mag, and the Eunoia Review, among others, and he is a first session alum of Kenyon Young Writers '19. He's also a dedicated filmmaker and believes storytellers should not limit themselves to one form; catch up with him (@vlctir) or his latest work (@lplne) on Instagram.
Edozie Umunna
F&A Representative, Critic & Columnist
Edozie Umunna is a 16-year-old senior at Roxbury Latin from Roxbury, Massachusetts. He's an avid soccer, basketball and football fan and is also passionate about social justice. A fun fact about Edozie is that he holds citizenship in three different countries.
Edozie Umunna is a 16-year-old senior at Roxbury Latin from Roxbury, Massachusetts. He's an avid soccer, basketball and football fan and is also passionate about social justice. A fun fact about Edozie is that he holds citizenship in three different countries.
Varun Mandgi
Journalist & Columnist
Varun Mandgi is a senior at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School in Richmond, Virginia. Some of his literary interests include acting as the editor of his school's newspaper and political magazine. He also loves to compete in Lincoln Douglas debate, wrestling, sprint, and polevault. When he is not competing or writing, he can often be found playing the clarinet, baritone saxophone, trumpet, or piano; if none of these instruments can be found on him, then you may hear him singing bass and baritone for his school's acapella group! Varun loves spending his free time reading up on some of his favorite philosophers, including Rawls and Rousseau.
Varun Mandgi is a senior at Maggie L. Walker Governor's School in Richmond, Virginia. Some of his literary interests include acting as the editor of his school's newspaper and political magazine. He also loves to compete in Lincoln Douglas debate, wrestling, sprint, and polevault. When he is not competing or writing, he can often be found playing the clarinet, baritone saxophone, trumpet, or piano; if none of these instruments can be found on him, then you may hear him singing bass and baritone for his school's acapella group! Varun loves spending his free time reading up on some of his favorite philosophers, including Rawls and Rousseau.
Rebecca Cho
Columnist & Critic
Rebecca Cho is a 15-year-old Korean-American from Jericho, NY. She is an avid writer and researcher of genres ranging from journalism to short stories and poetry. She was a gold medalist for the 2018 Nassau Reading Council Young Author’s Contest and has been published in TeenInk, Creative Communication, and Scholastic’s Best Teen Writing of 2019. She has won gold and silver keys in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition as well as a National Gold Medal for her journalism entry on the novel use of artificial intelligence in autism therapy. She has also been recognized for her writing and historical research in the New York State Archives Partnership Trust Research Contest and New York State History Day. Outside of her writing life, she likes to dance, explore environmental science, and binge-watch Criminal Minds and international films. She also experiments with classical, pop, and band music on her cello and piano.
Rebecca Cho is a 15-year-old Korean-American from Jericho, NY. She is an avid writer and researcher of genres ranging from journalism to short stories and poetry. She was a gold medalist for the 2018 Nassau Reading Council Young Author’s Contest and has been published in TeenInk, Creative Communication, and Scholastic’s Best Teen Writing of 2019. She has won gold and silver keys in the Scholastic Arts and Writing Competition as well as a National Gold Medal for her journalism entry on the novel use of artificial intelligence in autism therapy. She has also been recognized for her writing and historical research in the New York State Archives Partnership Trust Research Contest and New York State History Day. Outside of her writing life, she likes to dance, explore environmental science, and binge-watch Criminal Minds and international films. She also experiments with classical, pop, and band music on her cello and piano.
Caitlyn Hill
Columnist & Critic
Caitlyn is a 17-year-old senior at Stuart Hall School. She currently resides in Virginia, and her hobbies include reading, perusing Netflix, and struggling with her math homework. She is passionate about using writing to both connect with others and to share experience and ideas.
Caitlyn is a 17-year-old senior at Stuart Hall School. She currently resides in Virginia, and her hobbies include reading, perusing Netflix, and struggling with her math homework. She is passionate about using writing to both connect with others and to share experience and ideas.
Sammy Baek
Columnist & Critic
Sammy Baek is a junior at Naperville North High School in Naperville, Illinois. He is a 2019 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Silver Medalist for his prose piece, "Hoist the Red Banner High." Having loved history from a young age, he is also a finalist at the 2019-20 Chicago Metro History Fair Senior Division, as well as at the 2019 Martin Luther King Oratory Contest. He is currently a two-year member of his school's Model UN club, and was the Outstanding Delegate, representing Bolivia, in the Organization of American States at the Carl Sandberg MUN X tournament. He runs the Plvs Vltra Blog that presents his take on history and political affairs.
Sammy Baek is a junior at Naperville North High School in Naperville, Illinois. He is a 2019 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards National Silver Medalist for his prose piece, "Hoist the Red Banner High." Having loved history from a young age, he is also a finalist at the 2019-20 Chicago Metro History Fair Senior Division, as well as at the 2019 Martin Luther King Oratory Contest. He is currently a two-year member of his school's Model UN club, and was the Outstanding Delegate, representing Bolivia, in the Organization of American States at the Carl Sandberg MUN X tournament. He runs the Plvs Vltra Blog that presents his take on history and political affairs.
Ava Shaw
Columnist & Critic
Ava Shaw is currently a sophomore at Mater Del High School in Santa Ana, CA. She is a member of their varsity cheer team and the treasurer of her school's Unicef Club, as well as a peer tutor. Ava loves writing about educational and social issues, and is excited to collaborate with others and expand her skills at the Incandescent Review.
Ava Shaw is currently a sophomore at Mater Del High School in Santa Ana, CA. She is a member of their varsity cheer team and the treasurer of her school's Unicef Club, as well as a peer tutor. Ava loves writing about educational and social issues, and is excited to collaborate with others and expand her skills at the Incandescent Review.
Art & Design Team