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66° Galesburg
Student Read, Student Written, Student Led Since 1878

The Knox Student

Student Read, Student Written, Student Led Since 1878

The Knox Student

Student Read, Student Written, Student Led Since 1878

The Knox Student

2024-2025 Staff

Jane Carlson
Advisor

Jane Carlson

Jane Carlson is the faculty advisor to TKS, providing professional guidance, training, and feedback to student journalists. She is an award-winning print and broadcast journalist, and a chihuahua mom. Once upon a time, she was the editor-in-chief of her college newspaper.

Megan Shafar
Copy Editor

Megan Shafar

Megan Shafar ‘26 (she/her) has been a staff writer since her sophomore year and is also looking forward to helping with copy editing this year. She is majoring in environmental studies and public policy. Outside of TKS, Megan is part of Terpsichore Dance Collective, Farm Crew, and writing tutoring....

Mao Shirai
Graphic Designer

Mao Shirai

Mao Shirai ’28 (she/her) has been a graphic designer in TKS since her freshman year. She has not decided on her major, but hopes to minor in religious studies. In her free time, she loves listening to music, dancing, and creating designs. People often observe her dancing all of a sudden, but she doesn’t...

Minami Nishida
Volunteer Writer, Volunteer Photographer

Minami Nishida

Minami Nishida '28 (she/her) has been a volunteer photographer in TKS for over 1 year. She has not decided on her major yet, but is planning on majoring in ANSO and minoring in Journalism. The unique fact about her is that she starts reading from the end first.

Camy Mertes
Staff Writer

Camy Mertes

Camy Mertes '27 (she/her) is a journalism and political science double major, and has worked as a Staff Writer since 2024. Outside of The Knox Student, she is a member of Tri Delta, and in her free time enjoys reading, listening to music, and binging whatever show she is currently watching.

Alenis Rios
Managing Editor

Alenis Rios

Alenis Rios ‘27 (she/they) is a journalism major. In her free time, she enjoys getting ice cream with her friend and having long talks. They also enjoy reading!

Gwen Heidank
Staff Writer

Gwen Heidank

Gwen Heidank '25 (she/her) is a Theatre major and Creative Writing minor. She is a staff writer at TKS. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing, singing, dancing, lighting designing, and watching the Galesburg trains go by.

Aleene Ramirez
Staff Writer

Aleene Ramirez

Aleene Ramirez, class of '25, (she/her) joined TKS as a staff writer. She is majoring in journalism with a self-design minor in sports media. She uses she/her pronouns and enjoys playing soccer. Fun fact about Aleene is she has six dogs back home in Texas!

Megan Shafar
Staff Writer

Megan Shafar

Megan Shafar ‘26 (she/her) is a staff writer majoring in environmental studies and public policy. Outside of TKS, Megan is a dancer and choreographer in Terp, Farm Crew member, and writing tutor. She also loves going on bike rides and reading. ...

Pareesae Imtiaz
Copy Editor

Pareesae Imtiaz

Meet Pareesae Imtiaz '25 (She/her), a senior double majoring in journalism and creative writing. She’s a transfer student from Pakistan, and serves as a copy editor for TKS as well as the radio editor for TKS Firecast. You'll often spot her on campus with a DSLR in hand, as she also wo...

Jenna Schweikert
Editor-In-Chief

Jenna Schweikert

Jenna Schweikert '25 (she/they) is a journalism and political science double major. They are the Editor-In-Chief for The Knox Student. Outside of TKS, she is also a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha and President of Terpsichore Dance Collective. You can most often find Je...

Areesha Saif
Staff Writer

Areesha Saif

Areesha Saif '24 (she/her) is a Political Science major at Knox. She has been working as a Staff Writer since Winter 2023. She grew up in Karachi, Pakistan, which in her very biased opinion, has the best food in the world. Awards: Honorable Mention Critical Review ICPA 2024

Julia Maron
Editor-in-Chief

Julia Maron

Julia Maron '26 (she/her) joined TKS in her freshmen year, and has been crawling in and out nearly every position since then. Now, at last, she has slithered her way into the Editor in Chief chair. Feel free to approach her any time for a talk---she’s easy to spot, with her green, wrinkled skin, enormous...

Addison Steinbach
Staff Photographer

Addison Steinbach

Addison Steinbach '25 (any) is a History major and is the Staff Photographer. They love going around campus and taking moody pictures of the architecture.

Ellen/Kilroy Miller Garrett
Copy Editor

Ellen/Kilroy Miller Garrett

Ellen/Kilroy Miller Garrett '24 (they/them) is a Gender & Womens Studies major. They are the managing editor for The Knox Student. In their free time, they also work on WVKC, Knox's radio station. They have a tiny little dog (Frankie) who loves to join in on staff meetings. Awards Theodore...

Red Engel
Graphics Editor

Red Engel

Sasse/Red Engel '25, (he/him) is an Art History major with a Chemistry minor. He joined TKS in 2021 as the graphics editor and has continued in that position since. He is in charge of social media and the creation of the magazines. Red is a very active student on campus and is involved in many organizations...