From obsessions with cassettes to finally telling ourselves “I love you,” the Prospectus team has an endless amount of odd hobbies and personal journeys that we possess and maybe even share with you.
Whether you want to know more about who interviewed you at that party, who we are listening to or just want to blow off steam by glimpsing into someone else’s life for a while, the Prospectus team has you covered.
Chloe Leonard is currently Prospectus News’s longest-running reporter. Growing up in Franklin, Illinois, she felt as if she was in a small bubble and wanted a reminder that the world is vast. She has taken her can-do attitude from her mother and sense of exploration from her father, which both fuel her excitement about the world.
“I Looked in the mirror and said, ‘I love you, Chloe’ and immediately broke down crying because I had never done that before. Now I try to tell myself every day.”
– Chloe Leonard
She originally joined the Prospectus because she wanted the scholarship and a sense of community. It has also helped her add a dash of lightheartedness to someone else’s world every time she writes.
Leonard wrote that someone had once told her that they had never told themselves “I love you” out loud, which she then realized she had also never done. Now it is something she tries to do in the mirror every day.
She says, “It is important to remember that you’re the only person you have for the rest of your life. Loving and appreciating your mind and body helps you live a fuller life.”
She has made it her mission to become the best possible version of herself, stating, “I love the idea of becoming the best person I could possibly be.” She has taken this growth mindset to every facet of her life, often going to the gym with her best friend Dreah.
Although she says that her plan for the future has some gaps, her journey entails graduating this May, gaining her bachelor’s in 2026, and becoming a child psychologist. Moving somewhere without winter is also very high on the list.
Chloe’s Current Favorite Song:
“Rich Flex” by Drake and 21 Savage
Fiona Taylor is the Prospectus’s passionate photographer, taking the experience within the forward to become an established photojournalist. Hailing from Mahomet, she spent most of her childhood exploring the nearby Lake of the Woods parks and staying grounded in nature.
After moving to Champaign, Taylor has found that the downtown environment is her favorite place to be. She wrote, “I find the architecture and the way people move through these areas really interesting,” contrasting with Mahomet’s lack of a downtown scene.
She spends most of her time outside of Parkland going to the gym, taking photos, and spending quality time with family and friends. Traveling also contributes significantly to her curiosity for seeing through others’ eyes. She makes a habit of asking both locals and other tourists what their favorite places are and then tries to capture the magic through a lens.
Taylor plans to transfer to a four-year university to get a degree in journalism. In the long term, she intends to explore the world and share her love of photography with others.
Fiona’s Favorite Song:
“LALALALA” by Stray Kids (Rock Version)
Honorable Mentions:
“MATZ” by ATEEZ
Madeline Almaroad joined the Prospectus this semester as a sophomore after talking with Eric Shell, Prospectus News’s current liaison. Her goal is to become a published author, so she considers our newspaper a new step in her writing journey.
Originally from Mahomet, Almaroad considers Champaign-Urbana her second home due to how much time she has spent here. Her family also makes trips to Indianapolis, where she grew up, on the weekends.
School, work, and journalism take up most of her time. Although she says she enjoys all of these things, she makes sure to carve time for herself. Reading, writing, building Legos, and hanging out with Fiona Taylor are her favorite things to do in her free time.
Within the next five years, she plans to hit several major milestones. Finishing her degree at a university, moving out, and visiting France for the second time are all within close reach. Ten years from now, she hopes to be a published author and live in either Georgia or Chicago.
Madeline’s Current Favorite Song:
“wyd” or “Liquor Store” by Remi Wolf
Jaimee Hudson is the newest member of the Prospectus and has the longest history with the newspaper after being a member in 2023 and officially joining us again on March 3.
Her fire for writing has never waned. As a child, she wrote a monthly newsletter about her household. After her friends joked that she “asked too many questions,” she decided to turn it into a force for good, becoming an interviewer with the Prospectus.
Hailing from Chicago, she made a leap of faith to the CU area when joining Parkland. Since then, she has fallen in love with everything from graffiti art to the walkability of the city.
You could catch Hudson playing board games or coloring. You may bump into her online while gaming or in real life while playing Pokemon GO.
She also has a knack for collecting knickknacks. Hudson wrote, “It feeds my love for shopping and need for a hyperfixation.” Lego sets, Blu-ray movies and eclectic purses all have their place in her ever-growing inventory.
Hudson says, “My biggest five-year career goal is good health insurance!” She also wants to move out of state and explore to find her dream job. In 10 years, she wants a family of cats along with Spooky, her current feline friend. Traveling the world is also in her list of demands.
Jaimee’s Current Favorite Song:
“Tomorrow 2” by GloRilla feat. Cardi B
(Fun fact: This song has been on her Spotify Wrapped since release and she has requested it to be played at her funeral)
Mia Lescano gives her all in several roles within the Prospectus. From social media manager to cover designer and reporter, she works overtime to help the team in whatever way she can.
Born and raised in Chicago, she often leverages her “city girl experience” to find unique locations within Champaign-Urbana.
“I woke up in the morning and said I quit. I was tired of living life the way everyone wanted me to.”
– Mia Lescano
When she isn’t soaring towards her aerospace engineering degree, she’s likely practicing soccer at home. She feels it is one of the many things that connect her to her Peruvian heritage.
Dishes such as tallarines verdes and ceviche are in constant circulation in her household as part of her parents’ efforts to nourish the culture within their home.
At the heart of balancing so many facets of herself, Lescano has found a home not only amongst her peers at Parkland but also looking out for the Champaign music scene, going to Latin Nights at the Canopy Club, and adventuring in Champaign.
From here, she has several options. For the university route, she plans to attend the University of Illinois in Champaign or Boston University for aerospace engineering and eventually intern at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. However, she is also considering entering the military for aviation and engineering.
Mia’s Current Favorite Song:
“Sabor Fresa” by Fuerza Regidada
Nolan Decker is one of the longest-running members of Prospectus—tied with Chloe Leonard. As the digital editor, he has actively explored what Prospectus can do to improve its vibrancy and intuitive design.
Decker grew up in the small town of Philo, Illinois, which he calls “A quiet place to chill out.” His favorite part about being near Champaign is going to the University of Illinois basketball games. Aside from that, he cherishes the time he spends with his friends. Especially when he appears on their weekly podcast.
Spilling on the details, he wrote, “On Monday night, seven to nine p.m., there’s a radio segment called ‘Recently I Watched’… You can tune in to the Parkland radio station and listen to my friends and I.”
After Parkland, Decker plans to finish a bachelor’s in data systems and development at Illinois State University. When asked about his future, he joked, “My five- and ten-year plan is to survive!”
He notes that if you catch him waiting in the halls before class, he is most likely playing Flow or staring at the weather app.
Nolan’s Current Favorite Song:
“The Color Violet” by Tory Lanez
Santiago ‘Santi’ Gonzalez Ahuerma is Prospectus’s current editor-in-chief, taking over after Kassidy Scott’s departure this spring. Although his role is new, he immediately joined Prospectus as a reporter upon enrolling in Parkland last fall. It was a large step for him to be able to carry on his love for journalism that his teacher, Felicia Tufano, helped foster.
He makes sure to highlight her involvement, stating, “Without the great teaching and support from my teacher [Ms. Tufano], I would have never had the guts to pursue my interest in journalism.” Since then, it has sparked joy for every step of the process, highlighting collaborating with teammates as the best part.
Although he was raised in Champaign from the age of five, he still visits his family in Mexico quite often, staying updated on the country’s social and political climate. He feels that there is a subculture of pretending to have more possessions than one can afford. This has led him to the lesson of not caring what society expects and prioritizing the freedom of being happy with whatever you, as an individual, take pride in.
In a list of simple things that bring him joy, he named watching basketball – the Illini and Bulls in particular at the collegiate and professional level – football and Formula 1 racing. He’s also taken up the hobbies of skateboarding and learning to play bass guitar.
From here, Gonzales Ahuerma plans to transfer to a four-year university to study cognitive neuropsychology and join a master’s-Ph. D. integrated program. From there, he plans to become the professor that everyone wants to have.
Santi’s Current Favorite Song:
“Honeychain” by Throwing Muses
Honorable mention:
“Doesn’t it Feel So Lonely” by J.Y.N
Note: He has a long list of favorite artists between several genres including hip-hop, alt-rock, and jazz and couldn’t decide. Feel free to strike up conversations with him about music on a local and global scale.
Sarah Jacobson is a Parkland Pathways student reporting with the Prospectus who was born and raised in the Champaign-Urbana area. Her fiery commitment to writing and storytelling led her down a path that gives her the power to inform, educate, and inspire readers.
She wants others to fully experience Champaign-Urbana, shouting out the Boneyard areas, the Champaign Public Library and the array of restaurants downtown and on campus. She declares that Champaign is relatively small and lacks the overwhelming quality of many bigger cities.
Beyond adventuring through Champaign, Sarah often listens to 80s and 90s pop and rock while she crochets. After watching a couple of tutorial videos on YouTube, she became hooked.
She also wants people to know that she is autistic and it may take her time to break out of her shell, but she is always open to more friends.
In five years, Jacobson plans to have a bachelor’s degree in communications, journalism, or English. Becoming a technical writer or journalist is part of her achievement plan.
Sarah’s Favorite Songs:
“…Ready For It?” by Taylor Swift
Tayon Swift gains most of his fun from interviewing others and making them feel seen – as evidenced by this article. Being a reporter was not something he anticipated, but it has become one of the most fulfilling parts of his life.
Born in Tennessee and raised in the village of Rantoul, Illinois, he found a love of making connections with as many people as possible and learning from them.
He thanks his mother for his habit of doing everything that brings him joy and making memories rather than regretting what you did not do.
Joining Parkland’s record label, performing an original song for the first time for Parkland’s “Introducing YOU” showcase and learning to play electric guitar are all large steps he has taken out of the bubble of comfort on the path to dreaming big.
A short-term goal for him is to engage in more jam sessions. In five years, he plans to finish his bachelor’s in psychology and music business. Within the decade, he wants to move back to San Francisco, conduct his own psychological research and start a career that allows him to produce and write music not only for himself but for television and media.
Tayon’s Current Favorite Songs:
Honorable Mention:
“My Bad, My Fault” by chlothegod
Tristania ‘Trista’ Hansen joined the Prospectus this semester as an editor, finding a love for editing and critiquing things. The hands-on experience within her journalism major was a cannot-miss opportunity.
Although originally from the Champaign area, she has discovered many ways to celebrate her German and Peruvian roots. Though she is more in touch with her German side, she has found ways to maintain ties with her family even after moving to Savoy.
These strategies include keeping in touch with her relatives in Germany, researching the northern German culture that is slowly being lost, listening to traditional Peruvian and German music, learning Spanish, and remaining fluent in German.
Hansen considers herself an old soul, as vintage fashion and the decade of the 80s hold her heart. A love of music has taken her on a journey of collecting records, CDs, and cassettes, and she also finds herself re-experiencing her love for older movies and shows.
She finds that most of her free time is spent in the gym and jamming out to her collection of music.
In the future, she plans to travel to Germany and write articles about her culture. Within the decade, she plans to do the same for Peru.
Trista’s Current Favorite Song:
“Three Minute Warning” by Warlock
We saved the best for last. At the end of the list is you, the reader. We can not wait to get to know you and hear what you have to say.
Feel free to contact us about your favorite parts of CU, chat with us when you see us around, or if you are a Parkland student, you can even join the team and get a time capsule of your own.
We are Prospectus 2023-24, and we can’t wait to share many more stories with you.
“Um… I don’t know what I’m doing. Thank you and have a great day.”
– Nolan Decker
