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METEA MEDIA

Your World. Your Stories. Everyday.

METEA MEDIA

Your World. Your Stories. Everyday.

METEA MEDIA

Elliott Thacker

Elliott Thacker

Elliott is a junior, and this is her first year on the journalism staff as a Spotlight reporter. When she’s not thinking about her next story, you can find Elliott either playing soccer or talking about her pets. She also enjoys listening to music, going to concerts, and traveling.

All content by Elliott Thacker
Reflective notes are sentimental.

Dear Future Me…

Nama Koganti and Elliott Thacker
February 14, 2025

Happy Valentine's Day! The holiday is not just about loving the people around you; it's about loving yourself too. Here are 12 high schoolers’ letters to their future selves: “Happy Valentine's...

Girl waiting to get into the queue on Ticketmaster to buy concert tickets.

The great Ticketmaster war continues

Nama Koganti and Elliott Thacker
February 13, 2025

Buying concert tickets in recent years has become an extremely difficult task. Fans are struggling to see their favorite artists live due to an unreasonably competitive and expensive process. While...

Young Hearts For Life will take place on February 4th.

Young Hearts for Life to offer free ECGs

Nama Koganti and Elliott Thacker
February 3, 2025

On Tuesday, Feb. 4, gym classes will pause to allow students to take an Electrocardiogram (ECG) screening. Every year, thousands of young student-athletes unknowingly carry heart diseases that could...

Student opening the TikTok App after it has been banned.

We survived 12 hours without TikTok (barely)

Sweeti Patel and Elliott Thacker
January 23, 2025

A couple of days after the TikTok ban was temporarily implemented, students are expressing their opinions on the ban. “I was very upset,” Junior Shami Pandey said.  This weekend, students spent...

Students are excited about the new courses coming to Metea, including criminal law.

New classes will be introduced to students next year

Elliott Thacker and Nama Koganti
January 15, 2025

Starting the 2025-2026 school year, Metea will offer new elective courses to give students more opportunities to explore unique interests. During the current course selection process, students can now...

Mustangs gather to participate in the big finale, A Christmas Festival.

The music program hosts their annual Collage concert

Elliott Thacker, Spotlight Reporter
December 10, 2024

Music students performed at the annual Collage Concert last Thursday and Friday. “Collage was such a remarkable experience for me,” freshman Claire Tracy said. The Collage Concert features...

Riley Gallagher(12) pictured getting ready to speak.

Government students participate in mock Congress

Nama Koganti, Elliott Thacker, and Pahi Tiwari
November 22, 2024

On Tuesday, the Metea government classes held their annual Mock Congress simulation. The activity, which is a requirement for all government classes, involves a variety of steps to resemble the real process...

Students produce "Puffs", inspired by Harry Potter

Students put on “Puffs”

Elliott Thacker and Nama Koganti
November 21, 2024

This weekend, Metea students put on “Puffs”, a play inspired by the Hufflepuff House from Harry Potter. The cast and the tech crew worked hard to prepare and put everything they had into making this...

Throughout the week, students have been sighted lining up on front of the bathrooms during passing periods.

New bathroom policy sparks debate among students

Elliott Thacker and William Donofrio
October 25, 2024

This school year, Metea has implemented a new policy that makes most bathrooms unavailable unless a supervisor is present, creating conflicting views among students. Last year, a survey taken by Metea...

Juniors prepare for the upcoming digital PSAT/NMSQT on October 23.

Juniors prepare for upcoming PSAT

Elliott Thacker, Spotlight Reporter
October 21, 2024

Metea juniors prepare to take the PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test on Wednesday, Oct. 23.  Although Illinois switched from requiring juniors to take the SAT to the ACT, Metea continues...

According to Niche, Metea Valley is ranked 14th best public school in Illinois along with the Indian Praire School District 204 being ranked 10th best district in Illinois and 29th best district in the United States.

Metea and IPSD 204 ranked top in the state

Elliott Thacker and William Donofrio
October 18, 2024

Indian Prairie School District 204 is ranked the 10th-best school district in Illinois, and Metea is ranked the 14th-best high school in the state. Every year, Niche, a company that specializes in connecting...

Theater students prepare for the fall play

Theater students prepare for the fall play

Nama Koganti and Elliott Thacker
October 7, 2024

As the opening night of this year's fall children's play, Beauty and the Beast quickly approaches, the cast and tech crew are working tirelessly to deliver their best possible show. From Friday,...

Teens are encouraged to be organ donors.

New Illinois program encourages teens to become organ donors

Elliott Thacker, Spotlight Reporter
October 1, 2024

The Illinois Life Goes On organ donor program is run by the Secretary of State’s office and encourages people of all ages to sign up to be organ donors if they have their driver’s license. Recently,...

Mustang 30 still does not have a start date

Students complain about delayed start of Mustang 30

Elliott Thacker, Spotlight Reporter
September 18, 2024

Due to technology issues, the beginning of Metea’s weekly Mustang 30 session has been pushed back a few more weeks, and students are eagerly waiting for the sessions to be established. Mustang 30...

Students made USA-themed signs for last week's football game at home.

Students prepare for this year’s football game themes

Elliott Thacker, Spotlight Reporter
September 10, 2024

As football season begins, students supported the Mustangs by wearing red, white, and blue for USA night, the theme of the first home game on Friday, Sep. 6. Friday’s theme, along with others such as...

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