2023-2024 Chief Advocate Staff
Editor-in-Chief
Izzy DiNunzio is the editor-in-chief for the Chief Advocate and a four-year journalism student. Izzy wants to go to Florida State next fall and major in criminology with a potential minor in journalism.
Senior Editor
Julianna Bellagamba is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and writes for the NHS Chief Advocate. She does cross country and track. As a senior editor, Julianna enjoys writing about campus activities and sports.
Senior Editor
Emma Cummings is a senior at Nonnewaug and is a senior editor for the NHS Chief Advocate, focusing on ag/FFA stories. She is from Oakville and has three dogs, a cat, and two guinea pigs at home. She is also an active member of the Woodbury FFA program at Nonnewaug. Within the Woodbury FFA, she is serving as the chapter treasurer, is a captain of the Woodbury FFA Timber Team and Milk Quality CDE team,...
Senior Editor
Kaylee Jackson is a senior at Nonnewaug and is in her second year of the Chief Advocate program, now as a senior editor. She has played on the volleyball team for all four years of her high school career, and she enjoys writing about sports and local events. When Kaylee graduates, she wants to go to dental school and become a hygienist.
Senior Editor
Juliette Nichols is a senior at Nonnewaug and a senior editor/sports reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is an athlete and a part of the volleyball, basketball, and track teams. She is part of the CIAC Athletic Advisory Board as well as running the social media for Class of 2024 Class Council. She enjoys writing about campus activities and sports events.
Senior Editor
Madison Stewart is a senior editor for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and treasurer for the Class of 2024. She likes to get involved with multiple honor societies and clubs around the school.
Senior Editor
Devon Zapatka is a senior editor at the Nonnewaug Chief Advocate who reports on sports and ag/FFA news. Devon is from Oakville. His accolades include being the 2023 state champion for the Connecticut FFA Mechanics competition, a member of the Woodbury FFA Timber Team, a previous member of livestock showing teams and member of several FFA committees, an avid soccer athlete for both Nonnewaug along with...
Junior Editor
Gianna Lodice is a senior at Nonnewaug and a first-year reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate, now serving as a junior editor. A three-season athlete, Gianna is captain of the soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track teams, a testament to her passion for sports. She is also serving as the president of Nonnewaug’s National Honor Society for this year, and she is a member of the agriscience program. After...
Junior Editor
Juliana Bailey is a junior at Nonnewaug High School and is a junior editor for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is from Watertown and is a part of the ag program. She plays lacrosse and swims. As a first-year writer, she is looking forward to writing about sports and school events.
Junior Editor
Maia Colavito is a sophomore at Nonnewaug and is a junior editor for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is an athlete, playing soccer and track for NHS. This is her second year writing for the Chief Advocate, and she enjoys writing about a variety of news.
Junior Editor
Anna Crocker is a sophomore at Nonnewaug who writes for the Chief Advocate as a junior editor. She is from Woodbury, and this is her second year as a Chief Advocate writer. Anna plays field hockey for the school team. She enjoys writing about sports and the community.
Reporter
Lucas Almeida is a senior at Nonnewaug from Woodbury and a first-year reporter for the Chief Advocate. If he isn't working, he is probably watching football or cleaning a car. He joined journalism to switch up from normal English classes for his last year of high school. He is also a member of DECA and FBLA.
Reporter
Sophia Betkoski is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and a first-year reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is interested in current topics, music, history and reading, but she enjoys writing about many subjects. When she graduates, she wants to study political science in college.
Reporter
Jillian Brown is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and writes for the NHS Chief Advocate as a reporter. She is a first-year journalism student. Jillian is a member of the Woodbury FFA, works at a plant nursery along with working on a farm, and spends her free time with friends. Her plan is to pursue welding after graduating from Nonnewaug. As a staff writer, she enjoys writing about agricultural pieces.
Reporter
T.J. Butkus is a writer for the Chief Advocate. He lives on a farm in Bethlehem. As a first-year reporter, writing stories seemed interesting to him, which is what caused him to join.
Reporter
Sean Classey is a senior at Nonnewaug and a first-year writer with the Chief Advocate, with a preference of writing about sports. He plays goalie for the Shepaug Spartans co-op hockey team and is a former lacrosse player. He is also a proud instructor for the Learn to Skate program that operates of out the Frederick Gunn ice rink.
Reporter
Layla Coppola is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and is a sports reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is an athlete and captain of the varsity girls soccer team. She is a first-year journalism student and enjoys writing about all kinds of news relating to sports. She will be committing to a college for soccer in the fall of this year. She is considering a career in finance once she graduates...
Reporter
Kylieann Craine is a senior and a first-year reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is part of the Woodbury FFA program. Kylieann likes to write about hot topics. Outside of the classroom, Kylieann works with art and creative writing. She has two cats and a dog, and she works with plants.
Reporter
Dylan Duda is a senior at Nonnewaug and a first-year journalist for the Chief Advocate. He is part of the Harbor Program and does all sorts of sports, including track and cross country, a team of which he's captain this year. Dylan likes to go four-wheeling and likes to go on trips.
Reporter
Ruari Duffy is a general assignment reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. Ruari is a senior living in Woodbury. Ruari likes to play sports and spend time outside. Ruari’s enjoyment for movies as well has sparked her interest in writing about them. Ruari has a dog named Butterfly and loves to take pictures of her. Ruari hopes to study abroad for her next few years after high school.
Reporter
Madison Fitzmorris is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and writes for the NHS Chief Advocate as a reporter. This year is also her first year writing for the NHS Chief Advocate. She lives in Naugatuck and is enrolled in the ag program. When she graduates from Nonnewaug, she is planning to have a farm of her own in the future.
Reporter
Ethan Gelinas is a senior and a first-year writer for the Nonnewaug Chief Advocate. He took journalism because of his love for writing in any way shape and form. He enjoys playing video games and is currently trying to become an internet influencer through Twitch and YouTube. His other interests are veterinarian practices and being a writer.
Reporter
Evan Grieger is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and a first-year journalism student. He is an active participant in the Woodbury FFA. Beyond the classroom, Evan has interest in working.
Reporter
Dayton Griffin is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and a first-year writer for Nonnewaug Chief Advocate. He is from Bethlehem. He is an avid athlete and hockey player. As a writer, he enjoys writing about camp activities and sports.
Reporter
Kylie Healey is a senior and first-year reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. From Woodbury, Kylie enjoys work outside of school and fishing. Kylie is part of the FFA program and hopes to cover more agricultural stories in the community.
Reporter
Grace Lafferty is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and is in her first year with the Chief Advocate. She has a creative mind to finish everything that comes her way. She is very attentive when it comes to getting work done. Most importantly, she loves her yard full of tractors and fixing anything that comes her way.
Reporter
Jack LaMadeleine is a senior at Nonnewaug and a first-year reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. He lives in Woodbury. He enjoys cooking a variety of dishes and doesn't leave a crumb. His other hobbies consist of coding and playing the guitar. Jack is excited to write about pop culture and more controversial topics.
Reporter
Ashlyn Lavaway is a senior at Nonnewaug and a first-year journalist for the Chief Advocate. She creates book displays for the Nonnewaug LMC. After graduation, she plans on pursuing an English degree.
Reporter
Gary McVety is a senior at Nonnewaug High School and a first-year writer for the Chief Advocate. He is originally from West Haven and moved to Woodbury four years ago, beginning his high school career in a new town with a new school. Outside of school, he focuses his time around his job, where he works in the meat and seafood department at LaBonne’s in Woodbury. He has enjoyed writing since he can...
Reporter
Brian Mohl is a senior writer at the NHS Chief Advocate. Brian lives in Woodbury and is a senior at Nonnewaug High School. He enjoys writing about sports, school events, and the Woodbury community. In his first year as a writer, he looks forward to making intriguing stories for everyone.
Reporter
Zosia Olejniczak is a senior at Nonnewaug and a first-year journalist for NHS Chief Advocate. With her passion being animals, she is in the veterinary program and on the vet CDE. Her dream is to become an orthopedic veterinarian and to major in pre-vet when she goes off to college. Zosia is very involved with the FFA and became a Woodbury FFA chapter sentinel in hopes to grow her social skills. She...
Reporter
Ben Roden is a sports writer for the Chief Advocate. Ben lives in Woodbury and is a senior at Nonnewaug, He plays football and basketball for Nonnewaug. He enjoys writing about sports and school events.
Reporter
Mallory Sciaraffa is a senior at Nonnewaug. She is in the agriculture program, and this is her first year in journalism. When she graduates she hopes to go into a forestry field or entomology. Mallory spends her free time reading comics and watching movies. She is treasurer of the Seymour Leos Club, where she loves to help her town with her friends.
Reporter
Walker Stanton is a senior at Nonnewaug and writes for the NHS Chief Advocate. Walker is from Oxford and came to Nonnewaug for the ag program, specifically ag mechanics. When Walker is not in school, he is working as a land clearer at Lenahan Land Clearing and Grinding or spending time with the lads.
Reporter
Tyler Timko is a senior writer for the Nonnewaug Chief Advocate. He is from Bethlehem and runs cross country during the fall months while doing track and field in the Spring months. He has also done a lot of art pieces, enjoys Nintendo games, and has a knack for detailed descriptions. Tyler enjoys writing about entertainment topics like film and video games alongside more complex discussions in the...
Reporter
James Assard is a junior at Nonnewaug and writes for the NHS Chief Advocate. James lives in Bethlehem and this is his first year attending Nonnewaug. James is interested in design and likes to play tennis in his free time. James strives to attend a university and major in interior design.
Reporter
R.J. Barksdale is a junior at Nonnewaug. He likes sports and plays football and baseball. He also is part of the ag program. R.J. is from Beacon Falls and is interested in writing about sports.
Reporter
Carter Casbarro is a junior at Nonnewaug and a first-year reporter for the Chief Advocate. He plays on Nonnewaug's basketball team.
Reporter
Savannah Czerepacha is a junior and a first-year writer for the Chief Advocate. She is a part of the ag program and is studying aquaculture. She plays for the NHS soccer and basketball teams. She also has a pet pig named Lightning. When she graduates, she wants to go to college to study animal sciences.
Reporter
Emma DeFrancesco is a junior at Nonnewaug High School and writes for the NHS Chief Advocate as a reporter. She is from Watertown and has a dog and horse as pets. She has been riding her horse for about four years and competes in local fairs. She is also in the Leo Club and plays basketball. She enjoys writing about events in the community and her general interests. Emma is not in journalism classes...
Reporter
Abegail Diezel is a junior, a first-year writer with the Chief Advocate, and an active FFA member. She is an older sister to a brother who is a freshman. Abegail loves to participate in the aquaculture program with Ms. Leanne Golembeski. Abegail is excited to write and interview, and plans to study marine science in the future. While most of her interests include her family, she really loves her friends...
Reporter
Milon Griswold is a junior at Nonnewaug and a first-year reporter for the Chief Advocate.
Reporter
Kathryn Hartery is a junior at Nonnewaug and a first-year reporter for the Chief Advocate.
Reporter
Ava Hustek is a junior at Nonnewaug High School and is a reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is from Middlebury and is in the ag program. She plans to major in veterinary science. In her free time, she likes to be with her friends and work with cows. As a first-year reporter, she is excited to write about sports and school events.
Reporter
Brianna Johnson is a junior in her first year of being a reporter for the Nonnewaug Chief Advocate. She is an ag student who's interested in agricultural production. When she is not reporting on the latest news, she enjoys riding quads, working with cows, and socializing with her friends. She hopes to become a women's health nurse practitioner. Brianna is excited to be involved in sharing the details...
Reporter
Lana Manganello is a junior at Nonnewaug High School who is a first-year journalist for the Chief Advocate. She is from Naugatuck and is part of the Nonnewaug agriscience program, studying aquaculture, which she loves. She looks forward to writing and interviewing students and staff and hopes to publish articles. Most of all, she loves working with her animals outside of school.
Reporter
Grace Nelson is a junior at Nonnewaug High School. She is a first-year reporter for the Nonnewaug Chief Advocate. She is from Woodbury and is a part of the agriscience program. Currently, she is interested in animal production within the ag program. When she is not busy writing for the Chief Advocate, she enjoys hanging out with friends and working. Being a first-year writer, she is interested in writing...
Reporter
Arabella Rosa is a junior and a first-year writer for the Chief Advocate. She is from Watertown and is currently studying aquaculture in the agriscience program. Since she was 5, she's loved everything about cooking, and after she graduates from Nonnewaug she wants to become a professional chef and have a German shepherd. Rosa is also part of the NHS softball team and girls basketball team. During...
Reporter
Alexa Sweeney is a first-year reporter for the Nonnewaug Chief Advocate. She is from Prospect and is the 2023-24 historian for the agriscience program. She shows rabbits and sheep at fairs around Connecticut through 4H. She was also a part of the Dairy CDE last spring and would like to try out a different one this coming year. She is currently enrolled in the natural resources and floriculture classes...
Reporter
Brynn Clampett is a sophomore at Nonnewaug and writes for the NHS Chief Advocate. This is her first year writing for the Chief Advocate. Brynn does cheer and plays softball for the school. She enjoys writing about sports and the arts.
Reporter
Hailey Goldman is a sophomore at Nonnewaug who is a writer for NHS Chief Advocate. This is her first year as a writer and she enjoys writing about Nonnewaug's sports. She is an athlete who plays for the varsity girls soccer team.
Reporter
Deme Jones is a sophomore at Nonnewaug High School who writes for the NHS Chief Advocate. This is her first year as a writer for Chief Advocate, and she hopes for a great year filled with many well-written pieces. Demetra enjoys her sports - lacrosse and field hockey -- and hopes to play in the future.
Reporter
Katie Savulak is a sophomore at Nonnewaug. This is her first year as a reporter for the Chief Advocate, and she enjoys writing about all topics. Katie plays tennis for Nonnewaug in the spring and she dances year-round. Katie is a music enthusiast of all genres.
Reporter
Noah Zupan is a sophomore at NHS and is a writer for the NHS Chief Advocate. He is from Seymour and is a part of the ag program. As a staff writer, Noah likes to write about the ag program and the outdoors.
Reporter
Addison Bushka is a freshman at Nonnewaug and writes for NHS Chief Advocate as a reporter. She lives in Woodbury and plays soccer for Nonnewaug. She enjoys writing about sports, school events, and the community.
Reporter
Audrey Doran is a freshman at Nonnewaug High School and writes for the NHS Chief Advocate. She lives in Bethlehem and plays soccer for the school. She enjoys writing about sports and news in the community.
Reporter
Ava Hirleman is a freshman at Nonnewaug who writes for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is from Bethlehem, and this is her first year as a Chief Advocate writer. Ava plays field hockey and tennis. She enjoys writing about sports, school events, and the community.
Reporter
Gray Leveille is a freshman at Nonnewaug High School. He writes for the NHS Chief Advocate as a sports reporter. He likes to write about sports and the school.
Reporter
Aubrie Salisbury is a freshman at Nonnewaug who writes for the NHS Chief Advocate as a sports reporter. She's from Woodbury, and this is her first year as a Chief Advocate writer. Aubrie plays soccer for the school team and enjoys basketball as well. She enjoys writing about sports and other activities going on around the school.
Reporter
Morgan Willis is a freshman at Nonnewaug and a first-year reporter for the NHS Chief Advocate. She is a part of Freshman Class Council and the National Art Honor Society. She loves to get involved with lots of aspects of the school. She loves to write about pop culture, sports, and the school community.