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Inkspot

Whatever you are interested in, we've got it covered.

Inkspot

Whatever you are interested in, we've got it covered.

Inkspot

Lily Mavros’ voice has taken her to magical worlds, mythic battlefields and Broadway-inspired stages. Her passion for musical theater began with "The Secret Garden" and was reignited this summer when she performed in "The Six."

Photo Courtesy of": Mr. Jeff Christopherson

From the fourth-grade talent show to center stage: Lily Mavros’ musical journey

Lily Mavros’ love for music began with an impromptu fourth-grade performance, but her journey didn’t stop there. From local productions to starring roles, the Community senior has worked tirelessly to hone her craft. In this episode, we explore how she balances AP classes, voice lessons and performances—while...

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Birding, Thompson said, has made him more observant and in-tune to his surroundings. 
"I've noticed that I hear birds all the time, like really far away," calls and sounds non-birders don't register. 
Photo Courtesy of: Bodie Thompson

Skipping school for a rare bird? Meet the teen who’ll drop everything for a sighting

From the midwest to Costa Rica, Bode Thompson has chased rare birds across continents
Inkspot Staff and Kirsten Santana
Feb 4, 2025

At 6 a.m., before Community’s hallways fill with groggy students, Bode Thompson is already outside, scanning the tree line for movement. Fall migration is in full swing, and warblers—small, colorful birds that dart through the branches—are passing through. Thompson, a senior, spends his mornings...

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The Boy Wonder goes to college

The Boy Wonder goes to college

How Mr. Dana Starkey found his voice and landed his dream job calling college gameday
Zachary Knox-Doyle, Sports Editor
Jan 16, 2025

Whether it’s another blowout victory under the Friday night lights or a tense, final-possession battle on the basketball hardwood, whether the roar of the crowd erupts in triumph or falls to an anxious hush, one constant cuts through the noise at Normal Community High School–the familiar, booming...

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The Normal Marching Band went from "seed to bloom" in their 2024 show, performing a song list of: "Flower Duet" by Léo Delibes, "Singing in the Rain" by Nacio Herb Brown, "Country Gardens" by Perry Grainger, "A Road, A Path" by Roy Magunson, "Kingfishers Catch Fire" by John Mackey and "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.

Seed to bloom

Normal Marching Band caps season with top honors
Bella Green, Editor-in-Chief
Nov 22, 2024
The Normal Marching Band cultivated success and harvested a bounty of accolades this season with their plant-themed performance, “Seed to Bloom,” culminating in a flourishing finish at the Illinois Marching Band Championship on Oct. 26, their final show of the year.
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Swanson approached the Inkspot at the end of the 2022-23 school year asking if the program would be interested in reviving the livestreams the journalism students began prior to COVID. 
The science teacher has been instrumental in mentoring the Inkspot staffers in color commentary and play-by-play.

Evolution of a Voice: Mr. Joel Swanson’s journey to courtside commentator

Inkspot Staff and Ben Kerber
Oct 25, 2024

When Mr. Joel Swanson steps into the broadcast booth, it’s as if he’s entering his own laboratory—a place where the unpredictable elements of live sports mix and react. Over the airwaves, the veteran science teacher’s voice becomes the nucleus around which the game orbits, holding together...

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The perfect Mother’s Day gift: Insights from Community’s staff moms

The perfect Mother’s Day gift: Insights from Community’s staff moms

Ali Ince, Staff Writer
May 11, 2024

The second Sunday in May, a day circled in bright red ink on the calendar–Mother's Day: a day dedicated to honoring and celebrating mothers. While Mother’s Day is a heartwarming occasion, it can also be a source of stress for sons, daughters and partners as they hunt for the perfect gift. Roses...

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Fishing, Niekamp says, is about "25% luck, 75% skill." That skill Niekamp has worked to hone fishing a lake near his grandpa's home in Wisconsin each summer. 
Photo Courtesy: Dexter Niekamp

Niekamp’s big catch

The three-sport varsity athlete's fourth season
Lucas Drengwitz, Staff Writer
May 9, 2024

Dexter Niekamp squints against the glare of the lights, a towering figure with a focused gaze. The senior’s eyes are filled with determination and anticipation as he waits to strike.  There is the snap, the jerk of the line... His movements—fluid and precise.  This is another chance...

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Bird brained: The Inkspot puts Mr. Kevin Suess’ bird knowledge to the test [video]

Bird brained: The Inkspot puts Mr. Kevin Suess’ bird knowledge to the test [video]

Bryce Hickman and Carter Hull
Apr 25, 2024

The Inkspot quizzed the Community's resident ornithologist, Mr. Kevin Suess, on all things avian in honor of April 26's National Audubon Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness of birds and the importance of preserving their habitats. The holiday recognizes the work of John James Audubon, the...

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After five years in America, and Unit 5, Anna Fukomoto (second from the left) returned to Japan in January. She returned with more than her belongings, but a sense of belonging, something her time as a member of the cross country and track teams helped her discover.

Finding Fukomoto

How studying in America helped Anna Fukomoto find herself
Abby Ruebush, Editor-in-Chief
Feb 21, 2024

A new class of jittery sixth graders funneled into Chiddix Junior High, anxious to enter a foreign world: lockers and their dreaded combinations, too-short passing periods in crowded hallways and an eight-class, recess-less schedule.  Entering junior high: a nerve-wracking experience for every 11-year-old...

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Pam’s and Dave’s yearbook pictures in the ’97-’98 school year—the year they first met

A Storybook Romance

Avani Rai and Marielsie Iglesias
Feb 13, 2024

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The cast, crew of ‘The Dining Room’ on why audiences should see the winter play [video]

Inkspot Staff
Jan 31, 2024
Hear why the cast, crew of "The Dining Room" think audience's will enjoy the show.
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In an effort to end the stigma around mental health, Community alum Mackenzie Nelson launched the brand Stay Another Day, a clothing brand that donates a portion of its proceeds to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Photo Courtesy of: Stay Another Day, LLC

From personal struggle to mental health awareness brand

Community alum Mackenzie Nelson's 'Stay Another Day' journey

“Another day,” she told herself, pulling into the Community parking lot every morning.  “Another day,” she thought, sitting alone at the back of the classroom.  “Another day,” she said, crying in her bedroom after softball practice.  Stay another day, just one more day. The phrase...

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Mrs. Mary Esther Baldwin says ‘adios’ after over 25 years as Spanish teacher [video]

Marielsie Iglesias, Senior Staff Reporter
Jan 9, 2024
Mrs. Mary Esther Baldwin talks about the path that lead her to education; the veteran Spanish teacher's coworkers and former students discuss her legacy.
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Digital Illustration // Brad Bovenkerk
Acorn Image // College Board

Florida’s threats to AP Psychology should scare you—but don’t let them psych you out

Abby Ruebush, Editor-in-Chief
Nov 14, 2023

Ever wonder what high school courses Wednesday Addams or Miles Morales would take?  That’s the premise behind College Board’s new social media campaign. Amidst posts on financial aid and SAT practice problems, fictional characters are now the subject of an inquiry: What Advanced Placement...

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