Nancy Davy

Nancy Davy graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Education from the Ohio State University in 1971, followed by a Master of Arts in Education in 1977, also from Ohio State. She taught in the public schools of New Carlisle and Grove City, Ohio. She is the mother of two amazing daughters.  She and her […]

Doug Stanton

Co-Founder

Karlee Tenbusch

Karlee Tenbusch is a social studies teacher at West Senior High, where she also advises The Occidentalist, the school’s student-run newspaper and website. In this role, she mentors aspiring young journalists and fosters a love for responsible reporting, critical thinking, and creative expression. Outside of the classroom, Karlee enjoys reading, being outside with her husband Zach […]

Seth Gernot

As a lover of adventure, years ago Seth Gernot exited the for-profit world to put his skills to use on the nonprofit side. When not biking across Iceland or paddling in the Boundary Waters, Seth can be found working and volunteering with a number of nonprofit organizations. He helps organizations tell their story and listen to […]

Sophia Muir

Sophia Muir is a multidisciplinary graphic designer with a focus on print, digital, and motion design. She earned a Bachelor of Design degree from DePaul University in Chicago and is passionate about creating visually engaging work that balances creativity, clarity, and concept. Outside of work, she enjoys playing volleyball, making art, and spending time with family.

Rabbit Trap

Sam Milks is a 12th grade student attending Traverse City West Senior High School and NorthwestEd Career Tech Center in the Writer’s Studio program. He is an artist with his hands in an array of hobbies ranging from graphic arts to crochet. He also plans to join the Cybersecurity field after graduation.

Drowning in the Deep

Annie Stempin is a senior at Traverse City West Senior High. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her friends. She looks forward to continuing her education at Michigan State University this fall.

Behind Closed Doors

Elyana Marschner is currently a senior at West Senior High School and plans to attend Ferris State University in the fall majoring in dental hygiene. This is her fourth year as part of the varsity track team.

Dying Flowers

Katelyn Popp is a Junior at West Senior High and has lived in Traverse City for the majority of her life. School is her number one priority, but in her free time she enjoys writing, reading, playing tennis, and spending time with her friends and family. Although her plans for continuing education are in the mathematics field, she will continue to enjoy literature in her free time.

Kathy Kozachenko: Local Legend and Unspoken Queer Hero

Keira Wesley is a senior at Traverse City Central High School, and will be attending Michigan State University in the fall to major in Linguistics. Growing up, she fell in love with writing; it gave me her voice that she, as a very introverted person, didn’t have before. Through writing, she became passionate about research, politics, and literary analysis. She can’t wait to continue writing in college and beyond!