Inklings October 2024 Issue by inklingsnewsonline

5 Shooting Threats Increase

Explore how police and school administrators are collaborating on safety measures to combat the increase of school shooting threats.

Suburban Scary Stories

Learn about Connecticut's eerie urban legends, ranging from the notorious Annabelle doll to the ghostly White Woman.

11 Give us more PEP!

Read about Camilla Garfield's '27 take on why Staples only has an autumn pep rally, leaving winter and spring sports in the dust.

From SHS to NYFW

See Staples graduate Mel Stranger '23 strut the runway as a model for New York Fashion Week [NYFW].

13 October Staff

Editors-in-Chief

Nina Bowens & Lily Hultgren

Managing Editor

Mia Bomback

Associate Managing Editor

Lily Rimm

Creative Directors

Alex Gaines & Olivia Signorile

Buisness Managers

Charlotte Berner, Rylie Cordella & Caroline Zajac

Editors

Camille Blundell

Catie Campagnino

Elsa D'Elia

Will Enquist

Kelpin Gomez Avni Krishna

Phoebe Rosenberg

Sophie Smith Advisers

Joseph DelGobbo & Mary Elizabeth Fulco

Scan to see the full staff!

More About Us Inklings News is uncensored, unedited by administration, and does not allow for prior review.

Opinions

The Editorial Board determines editorial opinions that are authored by the Editors-in-Chief. Inklings News serves as an open forum for the public and welcomes letters to the editor and other submissions. Send signed letters to inklingsnews@westportps.org. Submissions will not be edited prior to publication.

Editorial Forget the White House for a minute!

Westport politics need student voices

The upcoming election has been characterized by widespread political polarization, hyperbolic statements and national tension. The outcome of this presidential election has major implications on key issues ranging from immigration to women’s reproductive rights, rightfully commanding attention. With the two major party candidates standing so firmly on opposite sides of the political spectrum, it is understandable why this presidential race will be one of the most critical in our nation’s history; however, the Board believes the spotlight on the presidential election should not leave local politics in the shadows.

The reality is this shadow leaves Westport students lacking initiative to be civically active at the local level. Many Board members feel as though it is hard to get excited about Connecticut politicians with the town generally leaning more progressive. Even students who can vote often feel like they don’t have a voice simply because they anticipate their vote being “canceled out.”

But maybe the problems with getting

When the Board researched the candidates representing Westport in the Connecticut General Assembly, they had difficulty finding adequate information on the candidates’ policies and plans, as well as information on the incumbent candidates’ actions while in office. Had unbiased information been more easily accessible, it would have left students and new voters feeling motivated to walk into the poll booth educated.

While local politics may seem irrelevant to those younger than 18, it is a space for all students to voice their opinions on how their community should be run. The Board calls on the student body to get involved with student government, attend Board of Education meetings and even reach out to local candidates and officials. After all, this is where major decisions that most directly impact Staples, such as potential cell phone bans, are being made.

While students do have options to en gage themselves with local politics, they should always feel that their voice matters, and greater efforts should be made to in volve young people. The Board agrees that

with young voters. If local politicians make an effort to regularly reach out and listen to students, such as when 2022 congressional candidates Jim Himes and Jayme Stevenson visited the Staples library amid their election to answer students’ questions about various topics, they can be a voice that amplifies ours when we often feel voiceless.

There is no doubt that this year’s presidential election will test our country, and it should be on all of our minds. But in the midst of all of the uncertainty, it is local politics that will have the most immediate effect on everyone’s lives.

To our fellow classmates: we can’t be silent. Today, it is more crucial than ever, and our voices will shape the policies of tomorrow. We need to take the steps necessary to stay engaged in local politics so we can be informed when we vote to send our WestWant

OUT WITH THE OLD The auditorium has not been updated in 30 years and the proposed renovations will address technical needs, such as the rigging and lighting systems.

Auditorium Renovations

$1.5 million allocated to Staples renovations

Siena Petrosinelli

Associate Managing Editor

Phoebe Rosenberg '27

Paper Editor

The Staples auditorium will receive a $1.5 million renovation, more than triple the original cost estimated by the Board of Education (BOE). The Board of Finance will dictate the plan for renovations in November, followed by a Representative Town Meeting to finalize the cost. The push for renovations is prompted by a concern of students’ safety that the BOE prioritizes.

The auditorium has not been updated in over 30 years. Last year, the school board approved about $463,000 to fix the heating and cooling system in the auditorium, but recent estimates have shown that at least $1 million more is required to renovate technical needs, including the rigging and lighting system. Should the Board of Education determine that a new sound system is also needed, costs can expect to rise even more according to CTPost.

“All of our systems are decades old,” Staples Players director and theater/drama teacher David Roth said. “We’re getting to

the point where we can't, like for lights, even get replacement parts for them.”

The current systems and age of the auditorium have made the production of Staples Players shows more difficult. Students have reported leaks in the ceilings, and Ted Hunyadi, District Facilities Director, told the to CTPost that heating and cooling pipes are the originals since the construction of the auditorium in 1994.

“I think as the equipment continues to age, we’re constantly having to either upgrade or work around the things that are not up to current standard,” technical director of Staples Players Colin Walker said. “Any upgrades in the technical aspect of the theater would add to an already fantastic program.”

Multiple pieces of broken and outdated equipment resulted in the need for a full renovation.

“It’s important to make sure to keep our equipment and facilities up to date to keep students both safe and happy,” student reprensentative to the BOE Calum Madigan ’25 said.

If the estimated cost of renovations is approved, the work is expected to begin fall of 2025 and finish in the summer of 2026.

Hurricane Relief

Westport first responders travel to North Carolina after Hurricane Helene

Ateam of four — composed of three Westport firefighters and one police officer — traveled to Asheville, North Carolina to help with communications, as loss of cell service continues to be a problem in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

“Some of the hardest-hit areas experienced a complete loss of cell service and traditional phone service,” Westport Fire Chief Nick Marsan said, “making communication to and from those areas critical. Our team did an outstanding job providing this vital assistance to the state of North Carolina.”

Costs will not be a factor for the Westport team as they will be reimbursed from an Emergency Management Assistance Compact with the state of North Carolina.

“Westport is proud to answer the call to help our neighbors in North Carolina during this challenging time,” First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said. “Our highly skilled first responders are well-equipped to provide vital assistance in restoring essential communication infrastructure.”

Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton have caused immense damage throughout the southeastern United States in one of the most powerful hurricane seasons in decades. Over 230 deaths have been reported due to Hurricane Helene, and according to the United States Census Bureau’ Community Resilience estimates, 20.2% of all North Carolina residents are living under a major disaster declaration.

“ We believe in the importance of interstate cooperation during emergencies,” Marsan said. “Just as we were able to assist North Carolina, we know we can rely on our neighboring states and communities for support should we face a natural disaster that exceeds our own resources.”

'25

Matthew Stashower '25 Inklings Ambassador

Photo by Daniel Harizman '19

CT faces rising school threats

Local teams work to ensure student safety

AStaples student was arrested by the Westport Police Department on Sept. 16, following a threat made on social media. Earlier that same day, threatening graffiti was found in Staples bathrooms. The two incidents were unrelated, and no arrests were made in the graffiti incident. Neither of the threats were deemed credible. But these threats are not only in Westport.

Shooting threats have been increasingly impacting Connecticut schools. According to CT Insider, approximately 65 investigations involving concerning comments and reported weapons were conducted in Connecticut schools between Sept. 4 and Oct. 16.

“The police department takes all threats seriously, and we respond the same way for each case,” Westport Police Lieutenant Eric Woods said. “We investigate the incident, identify those responsible, and charge them accordingly if a crime has occurred.”

Although arrests are often made in conjunction with shooting threats, it is unlikely that the arrested student will face major legal punishment.

“To be very frank, if a juvenile is arrested, they go to court and that’s about it,” Woods said. “There are no real consequences for juveniles in Connecticut. Most times, these crimes are not allowed to be diverted to our local Juvenile Review Board.”

Staples also faced a “swatting” incident when the school was closed for Rosh Hashana on Oct. 3. “Swatting” is a criminal act where someone makes a false report to emergency services in order to provoke an aggressive response. The goal is to harass, intimidate, or harm the unsuspecting victim. Woods confirmed that Westport PD had intelligence prior to the incident and knew that the school was going to be closed. When the “swatting” call came in, Westport PD was on the scene, and the school was empty.

TAlexis Jacobs '26 Web Features Editor

Caroline Zajac '25 Business Manager Bianca Mastocciolo '26 Asst. Business Manager

he police are not the only team working to prevent school threats.

In fact, a lesser-known force is a team of administration, teachers, school counselors and Westport police that work together to ensure Staples safety when there is a threat to the school. This team is called the Threat Assessment Team. Simply put, the team works together to determine the severity of threats and the safety actions that should be taken, whether that be an email to parents, a lockdown drill or canceling school for the day. The team is made up of representatives from different groups in the school to protect students' physical and mental safety.

“Every threat that comes in, we do a threat assessment on it,” school resource officer Ed Woolridge said.

The Threat Assessment Team meets regularly to discuss topics that could potentially threaten the school or student safety. They also discuss the schools responses to incidents that have already occurred— what went well and what they could improve on. Additionally, they review what is able to be shared through emails and announcements, and whether an incident is threatening enough to bring to a further precaution level.

When the team decides it's appropriate, Superintendent Thomas Scarice writes an email to the school community. They also have to decide what to tell the public to protect minors.

“We have to be very thoughtful about student privacy,” Staples guidance counselor William Plunkett said. “As much as we like to put information out that could help people feel at ease, we are limited in what we can share.”

To combat the rise in violence within Fairfield County schools, Connecticut Education Association (CEA) Vice President Joslyn DeLancey works for new measures that will make Connecticut public schools safer and more equitable. Recently, the CEA passed “school climate” legislation, requiring all schools to develop a school climate improvement plan. The plan should originate from a committee that includes teachers, administrators, students and at least two community members beyond the school system. The CEA has also determined that on-site health centers have been successful in supporting students and families, but have been implemented by very few schools.

“It’s hard enough to feel safe taking academic risks and making friends in school with general conditions and stressors,” DeLancey said. “Add in a school threat, and now instead of just having to worry about the general day-to-day things, [students] now have to worry about whether or not they are safe in their classrooms.”

Angelina Matra '25 Managing Editor

Graphic by Zara Saliba '26

Beyond The Ballot

Zara Saliba '26 Paper Editor “ “

Lila Boroujerdi '26

Web Features Editor

I“ “ There are many things that separate me from my opponent. I was disturbed by his answers last night that issues like plastics don't matter.

Jonathan Steinberg (D) Incumbent - State House

ncumbent Democrat Jonathan Steinberg debated Republican John Bolton for the seat in the Connecticut House of Representatives District 136 on Oct. 17.

e debate, hosted by Greens Farms Academy in Westport, lasted for roughly 1.5 hours. e candidates debated topics such as climate change, a district-wide cell phone policy, a ordable housing and taxes.

Steinberg has been in o ce for 14 years. is experience has prompted him to sign signi cant bills that impact Connecticut’s infrastructure.

“I've been involved with some really big bills like removing the religious exemption for childhood vaccines, limiting teenage vaping and a huge landmark gun reform bill after Sandy Hook,” Steinberg said.

In comparison, Republican candidate

Jonathan is never around. I've been on Zoning for three and a half years [...] what he talked about tonight and in the last debate should have been brought to us.

John

Bolton (R) Challenger

John Bolton has been a member of the Planning and Zoning committee for three and a half years. is has taught him that communication is key to accurately representing and addressing issues.

“Communication really needs to be a big part of my job,” Bolton said. “I'm going to be in [the First Selectwoman's] o ce at least once a month, if they can stand me. At least once a month [we’re] having a co ee [to discuss local issues].”

Bolton, highlighting the importance of communication, believes that his opponent needs to be around more often in order to fully grasp the con icts in Westport.

“Jonathan is never around. [...] So a lot of what he's talked about tonight and in the last debate should have been brought to us,” Bolton said.

Besides debating on current issues in the district, Steinberg demonstrated reservations about his opponent.

“Well, there are many things that separate me from my opponent," Steinberg said "I was disturbed by his answers last night that issues like plastics don't matter, that there are other issues more important.”

One of the main challenges when organizing the debate was eliminating bias and maintaining respectful discourse between the candidates. e Westport Journal, who organized the debate, arranged for all of this, recruiting volunteers to time and moderate in order to make sure the candidates didn't speak overtime.

“I believe it's important for moderators to keep the candidates on track and to not add any bias or fact checking into the conversation. In other words, the moderators shouldn’t be debating the candidates,” moderator Dorie Hordon said.

e students in attendance were grateful for the opportunity to learn more about their local candidates.

“By being active in local politics, I think students can see the democratic process at work, and really get to know the people who may represent them,” Sorel Kennedy ’25, one of the timekeepers for the debate, said. “It’s also an opportunity to inform people about voting, and really electing the candidate that represents students’ beliefs and values.”

Head Start

Charlotte Berner '25 Business Manager

What’s your dream job?

Let’s be honest - many of us would love to run a multi-million dollar company, but that is just unrealistic. Or is it?

Many Staples graduates have found success starting their own businesses, especially in the digital sphere. Four of these graduates, all under the age of 25, are now returning to the root of their innovation to share how they found success with their companies – including the Saturn app – earning tens of millions of dollars.

e StartUp Westport Young Innovators Forum will take place at the Westport Public Library on Monday, Nov. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Panelists Dylan Diamond ’17, Max Hammer ’17, Josh Karol ’17 and Jack Sharkey ’18 — all Staples graduates —- will discuss their startups and provide advice for eager future entrepreneurs.

“Staples students and all attendees will bene t from hearing rst-hand how an assignment in a classroom was the catalyst to a disruptive idea that is transforming the industry in which they operate,” Startup Westport member Kara Curtis said. “ is is a story of entrepreneurialism, hard work and big thinking

that anyone with an idea can be inspired by.”

e panelists’ achievements can be attributed in part to their Staples education, speci cally in the computer science department. is event will demonstrate the in uence that their computer science education played in their success, enabling them to grow their companies at such a young age.

“ is event is going to introduce to the greater Westport community how the Staples computer science program has produced signi cant entrepreneurs who have gone on to create groundbreaking businesses,” Startup Westport President Cli Sirlin said. “It will be an opportunity for current Staples students to see what they can potentially accomplish in the next eight years.”

Inspiration for many of the panelists' creations originated in the context of Staples High School. In his Building Web Applications class at Staples, panelist Jack Sharkey ’18 created a Chrome extension for Schoology to show students’ homework assignments on their browser. is was just the start of Sharkey’s startup career, as he went on to found the company Whop, a platform that allows creators and entrepreneurs to make money on the internet.

“Honestly I owe a lot of credit to Staples,” Sharkey said. “I didn’t even know

TECH FOUNDERS:

Sharkey '18

how to code before Staples. I had incredible teachers and it helped me get my creative juices owing early on.”

e forum will enable students to hear about key decisions that led to the panelist’s startups, delve into the strategies they employed and discuss the importance of networking and how their early involvement in Westport has in uenced their approach to securing capital. e event is expected to have well over 400 people in attendance, potentially including Governor Ned Lamont

Another panelist is Dylan Diamond ’17, the founder and CEO of Saturn Technologies, which rst originated as iStaples for Staples students to compare class schedules. rough the support of his computer science teacher David Scrofani, he was able to explore software and test programs with the student body. Now, only eight years later, the Saturn app is used by around 20,000 high schools out of 27,000 in the United States.

“I’m looking forward to coming back to Westport and sharing my story with the broader community,” Diamond said. “I have Westport and Staples to thank for everything, as Saturn started at Staples. I am hopeful students and young people will hear my story and be pushed to build tools for themselves to solve real problems through technology just as I did when I was a student.”

Photos contributed by Jack Sharkey '18 and Dylan Diamond '17

Graphics by Sophia Sheng '27 and Katie Simons '22

Statistics From Zippia and CNBC

Ann Marie Maccaro '27 Paper Editor

HAUNTINGS IN CONNECTICUT

CONNECTICUTS' CHILLING TALES UNEARTHED

Connecticut urban legends tell of encounters with spooky apparitions and sightings of mysterious creatures lurking in the woods. Whether fact or fiction, Connecticut's spooky stories shine light on each towns' unique storytelling traditions. 8 features

Graphics by

Photos by Allison Ginzburg '25

THE WHITE WOMAN

HEADLESS HORSEMAN

Union Cemetery in Monroe is believed to be haunted by the ghost of The White Woman. Her pale figure is dressed in a white nightgown and a white bonnet that conceals her face. Since the 1940s, she has been spotted countless times wandering around Route 59, where she is rumored to spook drivers. The Travel Channel claims that in the 1990s, a man reported that he hit a pedestrian who was believed to be The White Woman, leaving a dent in his roof. When first responders arrived on the scene, the woman was nowhere to be found. The question as to why she still haunts the cemetery and Route 59 still lingers.

You've heard of the Headless Horseman, but did you know that Connecticut has its own account of a horseman that may have lost his head? Around the time of The Civil War, a traveler asked a horseman for directions. When the horseman turned to leave, the traveler realized that the horseman was headless. Over the years, people have claimed to spot the horseman riding westward in Canton, away from the tavern in which he is rumored to have died, as maintained by DamnedCT.com.

page design by Camille Blundell '27

Hey, celebs: stay out of politics, stick to your day job!

Sage Cohen '25 Paper Editor

Iam very active on all forms of social media: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, etc. If I am scrolling on TikTok and come across a cool influencer, I will want the clothes, the makeup, the lifestyle this person has. I will envy this person and want to be just like them. However, I do draw a line, and that line is politics.

There's been a recent surge in celebrities going public with their political opinions in anticipation of the upcoming election.

Taylor Swift, for example, is very open about her support for the Democratic party. Since 2018, she has expressed her political views on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. She recently shared an Instagram post stating she will be voting for Kamala Harris. Democrats celebrated her endorsement while Republicans resented it. How-

ever, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Who cares what celebrities think about politics? That's not what makes them famous.

Take Kendall Jenner, for example. Jenner is a model and it is her job to influence through fashion. But, why would I be influenced by Jenner regarding my political views? Her specialty is clothes, not politics. I will not take advice from someone who is less educated on American politics than I am.

Maybe I’m an anomaly. There are thousands of people who really do care about what celebrities think. For instance, Swift's post and endorsement for Kamala influenced thousands of fans to register to vote. After the Trump Harris debate on Sept. 9, Swift shared a link to www.vote.gov in an Instagram story, which reported over 400,000 visits in the 24 hours it was live. Out of those visits, more than 35,000 people registered to vote.

"The number of 18-year-olds registered was more than double 2022,” according to Becky Sullivan from NPR.

So, I see that celebrities have political influence, I just don't think they should. Celebrities have every right to broadcast their political views, but people should be coming to their own conclusions about politicians without the influence of their favorite celebrity. We have a civic duty to do our own research regarding politics and cannot let ourselves be blindly influenced by the opinions of the rich and famous. Even though we like the art or the clothes that celebs make and wear, and even though we are fascinated by their lifestyles, that doesn't mean we share their same morals.

Furthermore, most of these celebrities are millionaires and live under very different circumstances than the average American citizen, so why should we trust that we share the same political interests as they do? Personally, no matter how much of a fan I am of someone, they are not changing my political view. We can share a taste in art without agreeing on politics.

Kid Rock

"I want that guy [Trump]on my team. I want the guy who goes, ‘I’m going to fight with you." -@kidrock

Graphics by Avni Krishna '27 & Alex Gaines '25

Graphic by Chloe Mitchell '28

"I will be casting my vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the 2024 Presidential Election." - @taylorswift

Taylor Swift

Camilla Garfield '27 Paper Editor

More pep, less neglect: all sports need their moment

Let’s be real—who doesn’t love a good pep rally?

The music’s blasting, the water polo boys run out shirtless and in their speedos, the cheerleaders are flipping through the air, and of course, the football team comes out trying to look cool with their barely tolerable performance. But why do we only have a pep rally in the fall? What about winter and spring sports?

I’m not saying the football team doesn’t deserve their moment (okay, fine, maybe I am, but only a lit tle), but it’s unfair that only fall sports get the pep rally hype. The rest of the athletes work just as hard to get maybe one Prep Zone interview. If that. Winter and spring athletes deserve to celebrate their accomplishments, too.

Basketball, hockey, indoor track, wrestling. Those athletes spend hours in a sweaty gym, and then, come game day, are playing in front of 20 parents and a lost freshman. No pep rally, no hype, no fans. Just tumbleweeds and parents who are way too enthusiastic about the refs’ calls. And I haven’t even

gotten to spring sports yet. Lacrosse? Baseball? Track? By the time spring rolls around, everyone’s so distracted with promposals and summer plans that they forget these teams exist.

Imagine being a track star sprinting like there's a bear running after you, and no one’s there because they’re mentally on their summer teen tour.

There’s an easy solution: three pep rallies. One for fall, one for winter and one for spring.

nd let’s be honest, pep rallies aren’t just about the sports teams. They’re a chance for all of us to come together and listen to the Superfans’ Captains (awful) jokes. So why should we limit that fun to just the fall? More pep rallies mean more chances to cheer, more excuses to miss class (just kidding. kind of) and more fun for everyone.

So, can we make this happen? Let’s give every sport their moment. Three pep rallies, year-round school spirit and most importantly, no more forgotten teams. It’s time to show love to all our athletes—fall, winter and spring.

MAKE SOME NOISE Orphenians (top left) sing the national anthem to start off the pep rally on Sept. 27. The fall sports teams perform choreographed routines for the student body and staff to boost school spirit and represent their respective teams.

Photos by Angelina Matra '25

Photo by Camille Blundell '27

Photos contributed by VJ Sarullo

Fall Favs:

Must-Try Fall Activities

AAnna Petrosino '26 Paper Editor

s the leaves turn into vibrant shades of oranges and golds, fall invites you to step outside and savor the season's delights. Whether it's biting into a warm apple cider doughnut at Stew Leonards, sipping lattes at Terrain Cafe or surviving a haunted trail at Legends of Fear, each experience offers a unique slice of the season.

Terrain Cafe

Adorned with pumpkins, Terrain Cafe is the perfect backdrop to sport your new Brandy Melville sweater and Ugg boots. Grab a coffee from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. and tackle your homework in style. Plus, take study breaks to explore their candles and home decor. If you’re there for lunchtime, enjoy their harvest bowl loaded with quinoa, seasonal vegetables, crispy chickpeas, spicy kale falafel, and a tahini vinaigrette. Located at 561 Post Road East, it’s the ideal spot for cozy vibes and productivity.

Stew Leonard's

It’s not fall without a trip to Stew Leonard's! The bakery’s legendary apple cider doughnuts and donut holes are a must-try and the seasonal pumpkin soft-serve is the sweetest ending to a shopping trip. If you are still in the market for some Halloween decorations, Stew Leonard’s has a stunning selection of pumpkins. It is also the best place to get appetizers for Sunday NFL games.

Legends of Fear

Looking for a fright night? Legends of Fear in Shelton offers the ultimate haunted experience. Brave the terrifying trail where ax murderers lurk in the dark. If haunted houses aren’t your thing, the hayride offers a scare with clowns getting up close and personal. Grab your friends for a thrilling night - just be ready for surprise encounters throughout the property.

Silverman's Farm

Since 1920, this five-acre family farm has been supplying communities with the best apples and pumpkins in the state. Spend a day at Silverman's Farm to enjoy food vendors and face painting. Hop on a tractor ride through the apple orchards, and then check out their market for some delicious hot cider (open daily from 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.). Don’t forget to visit the animal farm, too.

for fall study days. page design by Catie Campagnino '26 & Sophie Smith '26

Photos by Anna Petrosino '26

BOO! Legend of Fear's Hollow Trail in Shelton offers five haunted houses that each have different spooky themes. AUTUMN OASIS Terrain is designed to reflect a theme of reuse that blurs the line between indoor and outdoor spaces, providing an aesthetic backdrop

Photo by Nina Bowens '25

Strutting into

Style: Style:

Mel Stanger ’23 takes on New York

Camilla Garfield '27 Paper Editor

Mel Stanger ’23 took one of the biggest steps in her modeling career this September: walking the runway at New York Fashion Week. From working with universally known designers to experiencing the intensity of one of the fashion industry’s most important events, Stanger has been through it all.

Participating in New York Fashion Week means representing some of the most talented names in fashion, and that’s exactly what Stanger did. Through these connections, Stanger was able to achieve some of the most desired opportunities in the fashion industry.

“I walked for Art Hearts Fashion, which is a bunch of designers that get together, and I walked for six or seven other designers,” Stanger said. “The week before Fashion Week, I was in New York, just walking for a bunch of different people, and seeing who would want to work with me, and then that’s how I ended up with them.”

Securing a spot modeling at New York Fashion Week is no small achievement, as one show only has around 40 models.

“So when you go to the casting, the casting people and designers have you walk back and forth for them and then you give them your comp card, which has pictures of you and your information on it, and they get back to you within a few days,” Stanger said.

Whether it’s finding the right agency, prac-

ticing her runway walk, or building a platform on social media, Stanger’s determination led to getting chosen to model at New York Fashion Week.

“I would go to my call time and they would put me in makeup, and then the designers who are there that day will end up asking you to come and try something on and then you get your hair done, and then you wait for a while until it’s your turn to walk,” Stanger said.

Working with some of the most talented and well-known designers in the industry, Stanger had the opportunity to find personal connections to some of the pieces she modeled.

“I walked for this one designer, and she put me in this red suit, and her whole thing is female empowerment, and I thought that was

Fashion Week

cool,” Stanger said.

Stanger’s childhood dreams were filled with runway visions and now they’ve become her reality. She credits some of her success to the lessons she learned while attending Staples. Whether developing her confidence or learning to manage a busy schedule, her time at Staples helped her grow into the successful person she is today.

“I think because the modeling industry is very particular and people can be very judgy about what you look like, Staples prepared me for that,” Stanger said. “My advice that I would give to someone [wanting to model] is you kind of need to let go of caring that much about what people think about what you look like.”

The fashion industry is known for its fast-paced and intense pressure, especially during fashion week.

“For me, I just have to romanticize it and remember how cool it is that that’s what I’m doing,” Stanger said.

“It can get overwhelming, but as long as I’m grateful that I have that opportunity, it makes it so worth it for me.”

Stanger’s journey from Staples to New York Fashion Week is an inspiring reminder that dreams can come true with passion and persistence. Walking in such a high-profile event gave Stanger a new understanding of the fashion world.

“I think it’s cool to see that the clothing has a message and a meaning,” Stanger said.

As she continues to make strides in the modeling world, there’s no doubt this is the beginning of a promising career.

POWER WALK Mel Stanger '23 modeled a red suit representing women's empowerment at New York Fashion Week.

Photos contributed by Mel Stanger '23

Spooky Photo Contest Winner

Below is the winning photo for Inklings' first photo contest theme: "Spooky Fun." Congratulations, Eloise Arber '27! Keep your eyes out for more contests in future Inklings editions!

Eloise Arber '27

Spooky Photo Contest Winner

FREE DIAGNOSTIC TEST

Strong test scores aren’t enough — students need exceptional scores to stand out. C2 helps your student do just that with personalized test prep for the ISEE, PSAT, SAT, ACT and AP. diagnostic test to see where you stand.

*Expires 12/1/24

C2 Education of Westport 297 Post Road East Westport, CT 06880 203-226-2646 westport@c2education.com

Email inklingsnewsbusiness@gmail. com to inquire about having your business advertised in our paper on our website. Alternatively, fill out our advertisement form by scanning the QR code or visiting inklingsnews.com.

Westport, CT 06880