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The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint

  • November 10Chess away tournament at Waubonsie Nov.15
  • November 10Speech away tournament Nov.15
  • November 10DECA morning meeting in C161Nov.14
  • November 10Student council morning meeting in C264 Nov.13
  • November 10ACE morning meeting in auditorium Nov.11
  • November 10Veterans day Nov.11
  • November 10Research club meeting after school in C256 Nov.13
  • November 10Book club meeting after school in library Nov.10
  • November 3DGS hosts novice speech tournament Sat. Nov. 8
  • November 3University of Kansas visits Nov. 7
The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint

The student news site of Downers Grove South High School

Blueprint

2025-2026 Staff

Yoldi Villa
Editor-in-Chief

Yoldi Villa

Senior Yoldi Villa is an Editor-in-Chief for the DGS Blueprint. The 2025 to 2026 school year marks Villa’s second year on staff and third year with the publication. Her future plans include attending a four-year university and majoring in physics or journalism. Villa won her 2025 sectional for newspaper...

Grace Lube
Editor-in-Chief

Grace Lube

Senior Grace Lube is thrilled to be an Editor-in-Chief in her second year on the DGS Blueprint. She began her junior year as a sports editor, where she was first introduced to journalism. Since then, her interest has been sparked and a new hobby formed. After she graduates from high school, she plans...

Ivy Bloomfield
Managing Editor

Ivy Bloomfield

Senior Ivy Bloomfield is in her first year on the Blueprint staff as a Managing Editor. After two years of being in the Blueprint club, she was inspired to take on a more involved role with Blueprint. Beyond journalism, Bloomfield is on the cheer team, a leader for Blue Crew, and teaches first grade...

Jillian Myers
Managing Editor

Jillian Myers

Senior Jillian Myers is a first year Managing Editor on The Blueprint staff. Myers was apart of the Blueprint club as a freelancer for two years before becoming a staff writer and running the club herself. Other than journalism, Myers is active in the DGS Speech Team and participated in state and...

Liam Wells
Business Manager

Liam Wells

In his second year on the Blueprint staff, senior Liam Wells is a Business Manager. Wells’ journalism career started in his freshman year when he discovered the Blueprint Club. At the end of his sophomore year, he finished his 19th article and was awarded the “Most Published” Blueprint Club...

Elsa Kramer
Business Manager

Elsa Kramer

Senior Elsa Kramer is a Business Manager for her second year on the Blueprint staff. Other than journalism, Kramer is a manager for boys' track and field and works on the Yearbook. She also won second place at state in her event, Yearbook Copy Writing, as a junior. Kramer’s journalism journey started...

Lydia Larsen
News Editor

Lydia Larsen

Sophomore Lydia Larsen is a News Editor for DGS Blueprint. This is her first year on the Blueprint staff, after participating in the publication as a freelancer during her freshman year. Outside of Blueprint, Larsen is a member of the varsity speech team, Stage Crew, the PE Leadership Program, the literary...

Siobhan Diaz
News Editor

Siobhan Diaz

Junior Siobhan Diaz is a first-year News Editor for DGS Blueprint. Diaz has expressed interest in journalism starting in middle school where her interest sparked after writing for the O’Neill Senator Shout. However, she has always known she wanted to pursue a career involving writing. Along with...

Hiba Ahmed
Opinions Editor

Hiba Ahmed

Senior Hiba Ahmed is an Opinions Editor in her first year on the DGS Blueprint staff. Ahmed serves as the president of the Muslim Student Association, one of the co-founders of the High School Alliance of Future Physicians at DGS, a member of the 2026 Class Board and an avid member of the Asian Student...

Abby Heavrin
Opinions Editor

Abby Heavrin

Senior Abby Heavrin is an Opinions Editor in her second year on the Blueprint staff. Heavrin is currently the President of the DGS choirs and a co-social events chair of the Masque & Gavel program. She is also a member of the International Thespians Society and the National Honor Society. In her...

Ellie Scannell
Features Editor

Ellie Scannell

Senior Ellie Scannell is starting her first year on staff as a Features Editor for the DGS Blueprint. For nearly her whole life, Scannell has had a passion for writing and everything to do with creative arts. With a strong interest in English and experience with news reporting, being an editor in the...

Joy Haddleton
Features Editor

Joy Haddleton

Junior Joy Haddleton is joining the Blueprint staff for her first year as a Features Editor. Last year, she took Journalistic Expression, joined the journalism team placing 4th at sectionals for Features Writing and won first place for Best Audio Journalism in the Illinois Journalism Education Association...

Allison Rerucha
Features Editor

Allison Rerucha

Junior Allison Rerucha is a Features Editor for the DGS Blueprint. Rerucha is a member of the fillies varsity dance team and also dances at her studio, Expression Dance Center, on the team Legacies United. Additionally, she also holds roles in various clubs and activities at DGS, including ACE, Orchesis...

Evangeline Selking
Entertainment Editor

Evangeline Selking

Senior Evangeline Selking is a first-year Entertainment Editor for the Blueprint staff. Here at DGS, she serves as the principal flute of the Wind Ensemble, a co-founder of SWENext and an e-board member of the Tri-M Music Honors Society. Since her freshman year, Selking has placed in honors ensembles...

Gretchen Haselhorst
Entertainment Editor

Gretchen Haselhorst

Senior Gretchen Haselhorst is a first-year Entertainment Editor on the DGS Blueprint staff. While this is her first year on staff, she has been freelancing articles with Blueprint since her sophomore year, including taking Journalistic Expression her junior year. Additionally, she competed in the 2025...

Salman Rajper
Sports Editor

Salman Rajper

Senior Salman Rajper is a Sports Editor for DGS Blueprint, taking both Journalistic Expression and Advanced Journalistic Writing. Salman’s journey began when, one day on a random Friday morning, he walked into room A310. At the time, he had no idea where his journey would take him. In under 2 months...

Libby Hatlen
Sports Editor

Libby Hatlen

Junior Libby Hatlen is a Sports Editor for the Blueprint staff. Blueprint is Hatlen's first experience in journalism, and she is excited to explore what being involved in journalism entails. She was inspired to get involved by her passion for English and her desire to improve her writing skills. In...

Dylan Mora
Photo Editor

Dylan Mora

Senior Dylan Mora is a first-year Blueprint Staff member who is serving as one of the Blueprint Photo Editors for the 2025-2026 school year. During the 2024-2025 school year, Mora was a part of the Blueprint club, where he gained recognition for his photo galleries. Outside of Blueprint, Mora has...

Malaya Jones
Photo Editor

Malaya Jones

Senior Malaya Jones is a Photo Editor entering her first year as part of the Blueprint Staff. Considering her love for writing and her newfound skills in photo editing, Jones decided to continue developing her skills and join Blueprint. Jones is a part of the Mustang Way leadership program for DGS....

Isaiah MacKenzie
Graphics Editor

Isaiah MacKenzie

Isaiah MacKenzie is a graphics editor for the 2025-2026 school year. It’s MacKenzie’s first year on the staff, but his second year with the DGS Journalism program, due to being a club member. He’s a stage crew chief for props under DGS Drama and an active member of Spanish Club, Honor Roll and...

Christopher Demos
Graphics Editor

Christopher Demos

Senior Christopher Demos is a first-year Blueprint member working as a Graphics Editor. Although new to student journalism at DGS, Demos has always enjoyed their English classes. Demos frequently applies themselves to their academics; they are a member of the National Technical Honors Society, have...

Ren Espinoza
Graphics Editor

Ren Espinoza

Senior Ren Espinoza is a Graphics Editor in her second year on the DGS Blueprint staff. As a member of National Honors Society, National Art Honors Society, Key club and Asian Student Union, Espinoza is committed to fostering a positive environment. Whether it be through art or not, she hopes to use...

Henry Pearson
Video Editor

Henry Pearson

Junior Henry Pearson is a Video Editor for the Blueprint staff. He is involved in cross country, track and field, Model United Nations and politics club. He is on the honor roll. He was awarded the sportsmanship plaque for demonstrating fairness, ethics, respect and honor toward his teammates, coaches...

Adrian Herres
Video Editor

Adrian Herres

Senior Adrian Herres is enjoying his second year with Blueprint as a Video Editor. He has previously written articles and created news videos for Blueprint, which allowed him to compete in an IHSA TV News state competition. Herres has also previously competed in the IHSA short film state competition...

Claire Posmer
Social Media Manager

Claire Posmer

Senior Claire Posmer is a first-year Social Media Manager for Blueprint this year. Even though she is a new member, she has always had a passion for writing and has excelled in previous English courses. Due to her hard work, she was recommended for staff this year and is excited to explore the ins and...

Alice Moriarty
Social Media Manager

Alice Moriarty

Senior Alice Moriarty is a first-year Social Media Manager for the DGS Blueprint. Moriarty is new to the journalism scene and enthusiastic about entering as a staff writer. She is involved in clubs such as Athletes Committed to Excellence, Key Club, PE Leading and National Honor Society at DGS. Outside...

Saara Raheja
Copy Editor

Saara Raheja

Sophomore Saara Raheja is a Copy Editor for the Blueprint staff. This is her first year as a staff member, but she has been a part of the publication since her freshman year. In addition to journalism, Raheja is a DECA state qualifier, black belt in taekwondo, member of the varsity speech team, the girls’...

Megan Pogorelec
Copy Editor

Megan Pogorelec

Senior Megan Pogorelec is a first year Copy Editor for the DGS Blueprint. Although she is new to journalism, she has always enjoyed writing and is excited to explore all this experience has to offer. Outside of school, Pogorelec works at her local Old Navy and plays soccer for both Chicago Empire...

Abigail Carlson
Copy Editor

Abigail Carlson

Junior Abigail Carlson is a Copy Editor on Blueprint staff. In addition, she is also on the varsity speech team. In speech, Carlson has been awarded top novice for Radio Speaking, along with 4th place for radio speaking. Carlson decided to join Blueprint after encouragement from her teachers as an...

Jillian Oberle
Copy Editor

Jillian Oberle

Junior Jillian Oberle is a Copy Editor for the DGS Blueprint. This is her first year on the Blueprint staff, yet she has always had a strong passion for reading and writing. This passion influenced her to explore journalism. Oberle is involved in varsity badminton and flag football at DGS, and she...

Mary Long
Adviser

Mary Long

Mary Long teaches TV 1, TV 2, Writing for Broadcast, Creative Writing, Journalistic Expression, Advanced Journalistic Writing and Drawing and Painting 1 at DGS. Prior to working at DGS, she taught in Wisconsin for eight years and in Cicero, Il for one year. Her undergraduate degree is from the University...