This year’s Blue and Gold staff was small, but mighty. The group was composed of five seniors and one junior– who all worked together tirelessly to produce over a 100 stories for the 2024-2025 school year. The staff writers covered school events, student spotlights, teacher features, local news and world wide events, creating a well-rounded publication that was thorough and engaging. Each member of this year’s staff was a key part of the overall production. To honor the work that the students have done, this will be an ode to the graduating seniors: Grace Hawley, Cody Smith, Gabrielle Goenaga, Carson Russell and Connor Medford. Though the majority of the class is headed to their next chapter, Braden Miller, the voice of the junior class, will be returning to complete his senior year at Carmel. Braden also contributed significantly to the publication. His career in writing will only blossom from this year on staff. 

This year’s group of seniors will be spreading out across the state, with one heading down to Birmingham, Alabama. Whether they are pursuing a career in journalism, or still deciding the route that their next four years will take, I am honored and proud to have worked with them for the past 9 months. 

Grace Hawley: Managing editor of The Blue and Gold

Grace Hawley, raised in Charlotte, will be attending High Point University in the fall of 2025 where she is undecided in her course of study; however, she is going to “explore all of my options and study everything that I can.” 

 Hawley has been an active member of the journalism program at Carmel since her sophomore year. She began her journey in the Media and Journalism I class, honing in on the skills that it took to write from an objective point of view. Hawley found her niche in journalism through covering current events, as she has always shown a deep desire to understand beyond her own experience. Hawley’s introduction to journalism led her to join The Blue and Gold her junior year, where she began the practice of publication. She has been a monumental piece of the program for the past three years, and her contributions to the school’s news are robust and thought-provoking. Hawley took on more of a leadership role this year, being one of the only two returners to this year’s staff. She helped brainstorm class goals, train and guide new staff members, continued publishing high quality work, managed the emails and communications and so much more. Hawley will be a missed presence in the halls of Carmel. 

Hawley has been at Carmel since she was in second grade. Her time at Carmel has shaped her into the person she is today, and though the season is bittersweet, as she states “I am  very excited to graduate and move onto the next stage of my life.” She knows she will miss many things about being in high school, one of which is living with her parents as she has a close-knit relationship with them, Hawley states “my parents have always been my biggest supporters and helped me explore everything that interests me. I am very grateful for God giving them to me as parents, since I am adopted.” 

Hawley has accomplished many things in her time at Carmel. She is especially proud of her involvement with Quill & Scroll Honors Society, National Honors Society, and the Yearbook and Blue and Gold. Hawley has taken on an active leadership role in all of her activities: she was Vice President of National Honors Society, Copy Editor of Yearbook and managing editor of this year’s Blue and Gold. Hawley is also proud of her acceptance into High Point where she will be on the Presidential Scholarship.

A part from her academic achievements, Hawley has held jobs all throughout high school, including the her current position at Sugar Creek Farm where she takes care of the animals– horses primarily, but also lambs, goats, pigs, donkeys and chickens– feeding, cleaning and making sure the camps run smoothly for the children attending. Hawley has always loved animals and wanted to be back around horses. She recalls trips to Michigan as a child where she would visit the farm of her grandfather’s neighbor. Hawley states that “Horses have the biggest personalities ever; they are unique and special in their own little ways.”

Hawley has developed many life skills through her involvement in extracurricular activities and the relationships she has formed with both peers and teachers. She feels that she has learned the most about how to ” be confident in myself and stay positive!” 

Her favorite memory from this year is her Impact Week trip to London for the literary educational trip. She states that she “fell in love with all of the architecture and just the overall depth and history of England.” 

Her lingering words of advice to the Carmel body are: “You can make your life more positive by being more positive. Even if you are stuck in a bad place just make a positive comment about the day. It can truly change your mindset about your own life. Appreciate the little things in life, and life will appreciate you.”

Her favorite quote that has provided motivation for her is from Albert Einstein: “I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”

Hawley is excited for various aspects of her next four years, as she states: “I am excited to meet new people and learn a lot of new things. I am super excited to take all the classes that I can! I am excited about the opportunities that High Point offers and the focus on life skills as well. I think that It will be a great way to set myself up for success once I leave college. I also think that campus is gorgeous and I am so excited to go on walks and be able to breathe in the fresh air!”

Brandy Caton, Hawley’s yearbook staff advisor, states that, “Grace is a very gentle and kind soul who is a joy to work with – she is so dependable and always gets the work done and is always willing to do anything that is needed.  She will be very missed on the yearbook staff!!!”

Gabrielle Goenaga: staff writer and reporter

Gabrielle Goenaga was born and raised in Charlotte, North Carolina, and she has attended Carmel since the 6th grade. Goenaga is attending Appalachian State University where she plans to study English. She states, “I want to major in English because I think it’s an interesting topic and learning to read and write at a deeper, more advanced level is something useful for a wide variety of jobs in the future.” Though Goenaga isn’t sure what she wants to do in the future, she knows that having an advanced vocabulary and communication skills will benefit her no matter what she decides.

Goenaga has been a part of the Media and Journalism program at Carmel for the past two years. She began with the introduction course during her junior year. She realized quickly that she was interested in journalism as she states, “I always knew that I loved writing, but it was nice to try a different writing style that I’d never done before.” Goenaga, new to The Blue and Gold this year, has been a vital part of the production of this year’s staff. She has engaged with people and pieces with her enthusiasm and an aptitude for storytelling that captures both humanity and journalistic integrity. Goenaga produced pieces that encapsulate who people really are. Her interviews aimed to truly understand and honor people, and her writing ability aided to the overall respect that she showed to her duties as a journalist. 

Goenaga has done many things that she is proud of during her time at Carmel. She is overall, the most proud, of her growth as a person. Through the past four years, she has discovered who she truly wants to be. She states that, “I was not scared to experiment with different friends, appearances and personality traits. Through it all, I have learned what I enjoy and what I value in my relationships and in myself.” Her growth in high school has set her up for stability and confidence in college. She hopes to remain true to herself and her experiences, and despite the challenges she faced through her years here, she is proud of how she has matured and handled the situations.

Goenaga has also held numerous jobs and been a part of various organizations in her time at Carmel. She most recently was inducted into the Quill and Scroll Honor Society for her work and excellence in her time with The Blue and Gold. She is also a part of the National Honor Society. 

Goenaga’s favorite memory from the past year was her Impact Week experience. She was able to go to London with her best friends. She states, “I felt so lucky to be in that city with people I love.” 

Goenaga hopes to be remembered for her perseverance and resilience. She attributes her strength and fortitude to the people in her life that have shaped who she has become. She states, “My relationships are the most important thing in my life because when things go wrong and when my life gets difficult, I need those people to help me get through.”

Goenaga’s words of advice for the students at Carmel: “get excited over little things. High school is a long journey and it takes a lot of strength to get through it. I focused on being positive on little aspects of my life and planning small things that made me happy and helped me get through the day. Whether that be hanging out with friends after school, going out to a fun dinner, or just grabbing coffee before school, those things can motivate you and help you find joy throughout the week.” 

Her favorite quote that has offered her motivation through the past couple of years is from her favorite singer Clairo. The song “Slow Dance” states, “When candles burn out and the record is faded down, I know you’ve got people to turn to.” 

Goenaga is excited for many aspects of her next four years at Appalachian State. The campus offers the beauty of the surrounding mountains. Goenaga said, “Boone is such a beautiful place and the campus is gorgeous. I think the environment and the ability to be outside so often is going to be really good for me.”  She is the most excited for the new people and friends she will connect with. Goenaga’s friendships have meant the most to her, and she is ready to meet new people that will carry her through the next four years. 

Ben Bash, Goenaga’s Entrepreneurship teacher, states, “There are two words that come to mind when I think of Gabrielle.  The first is quiet. But to be clear, I don’t say that in any negative sense. In fact, I see it as a virtue. Which leads me to my second word that describes Gabrielle – strong. There is power and depth in what she communicates. In her quiet strength, Gabrielle is humble, helpful and calming.” 

Cody Smith: Managing Editor of The Blue and Gold

Cody Smith was born and raised in Charlotte, where he is planning on attending UNC Charlotte to study Business. Smith hopes to use his degree to follow in his dad’s footsteps and find a career in either finance or sales. 

Smith has been a part of the Media and Journalism program since his freshman year, where he took Jennifer Dixon’s Media and Journalism I introduction course. He joined The Blue and Gold his junior year due to his interest in sports broadcasting and reporting. Smith has been an avid producer of work since his joining, combining both his passion for various sports – primarily Panther’s Football and Carmel’s own sports teams— and his interest in writing. Smith has been an integral part of the publication, leading his peers in how to produce and polish works of journalism. 

Smith has also been involved in the Carmel community since he was in kindergarten; he is a part of the Alpha and Omega group along with a handful of other seniors. Smith is feeling “bitter-sweet about graduation.” He is excited for his next steps, but knows that it will be an adjustment to transition into Carmel. Smith has built countless relationships with both his peers and his teachers at Carmel. Smith  states, “the friendship I have made here will last a lifetime.”  

Smith has done many things in his time at high school that is proud of. His proudest achievement has been becoming an Eagle Scout. He started the journey towards becoming an Eagle in 5th grade and received his Eagle his junior year, after years of hard work and dedication. His project consisted of. Smith states, “I redid the landscaping of my church office. I took out all the plants, added mulch and added a new irrigation system. It was a lot of work.” Smith has also been working as a coach for a basketball program called Charlotte Skills Factory. Smith coaches two different groups ranging kindergarten to middle schoolers. Smith has enjoyed this job so much due to his love for basketball, and the ability to help the children get better. Smith states, “developing the kids is great. I just love building relationships with everyone involved, including the coaches.” Smith is also a part of the Quill and Scroll Honors society for his work and dedication with The Blue and Gold. He has continued to advance his academic career with each passing year, and he wants to continue his upward trajectory into college.

Smith’s main focus has always been building relationships, first and foremost his relationship with God. Smith states, “that is what I am most proud of, my growth in my relationship with God and the friends I have made.”

Smith’s favorite memory from the past year has been all the fun times he and his friends have had. He knows he will miss them all being together in Charlotte. 

Smith’s lingering words of advice is to: “Just enjoy high school, making memories is almost more important than school. Don’t wish for time to go faster, just enjoy where you are right now.” 

His favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 3:5-6– “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Smith is excited for many various parts of his next four years. He is excited to finally start studying business and learning more about the business world. He is excited to make new friends and find new opportunities around Charlotte. Smith states, “learning how to live on my own, branching out and growing his relationship with God even further.” Smith is sad to leave the comfortability of living at home with his family who is very close with. 

Joel McMillon, Smith’s senior year Bible teacher, states, “Cody is passionate about sports and about engaging people in conversation to hear their opinions on things and learn how they think! He has the uncanny ability to start conversations with strangers without hesitation and with an endearing curiosity that invites them to share their thoughts with him. His friendly smile and good heart put others at ease and leave people feeling seen and heard.”

Connor Medford: staff writer and reporter

Connor Medford has been at Carmel since he was in kindergarten and is excited to take on the next season of life. Medford plans on attending University of North Carolina at Charlotte and studying Business Administration in hopes to one day join the world of finance with wealth management as his long term goal.  

Medford has been a part of the Media and Journalism program since his sophomore year, where he was excited to try a different type of writing, other than what he had already been exposed to in Language Art classes. Medford joined The Blue and Gold this school year as he hoped to expand his writing skills and portfolio. He stated, “I wanted to write about things I actually enjoyed and explore my opinions.” Medford has a unique skill with his words and uses them wisely, to tell stories that offer perspective and in-depth experiences. He produced countless stories that highlighted components of the student body that are often overlooked. He also was willing to pick-up and help with any task that was asked of him. 

Medford’s most proud accomplishments during his high school career have been finishing out his senior year strong, with relationships that will last him a lifetime. Medford attributes his relationship with God to the environment that he has been surrounded by at Carmel. He has persevered through obstacles and continued to grow as an individual who values hard work and determination. His friendships and relationships with his teachers have made his time as Carmel worth the while, as he has plugged into the people around him and learned lessons from those who he has surrounded himself with. He overall takes pride in the fact that he “survived all four years of high school despite the various challenges that I went through.” 

Medford has worked several jobs in his time at Carmel, such as working at Harris Teeter and at his church’s coffee shop. He has also played soccer for  the school for two years, but been a part of his rec. League, Champs, for three years with his friends. 

He has many memories that will linger long past his time here, but his favorite from senior year was going on Spring Break with his friends to Hilton Head. Medford states, “being able to spend time with the people that are closest to me. The things that we have all feel so fleeting, but the memories I have with those people will last me a lifetime.” Medford hopes to be remembered for being a bright spot in people’s day. He made it his goal to be kind to those in his day-to-day life. He aimed to be hopeful and encouraging to his peers 

Medford’s lingering words of advice for his fellow peers “make school and memories equal priority in your life. Don’t fall behind in school, but also don’t let the academics of school take over your life. They can take a toll on your mental health, and living life and making memories, spending time with people, friends and family, is the most important thing you can do.”

His favorite quote comes from his Grandpa who always said to “work first then play later.” 

Medford is eager and ready for the next stage of life. His future at UNCC and beyond is filled with possibilities and opportunities that excite him. He states, “I finally get to start working towards a real job, though I am nervous about somethings, I am excited about the work that it will take to earn a degree.” He is also excited to make new friends and connections through his time at college. 

Marlin Mogusu, one of Medford’s teachers through the past few years, states, “Connor Medford brought creativity, intentionality, and a generous dose of humor to every moment in my class. His kindness and success were matched only by his deep love for his grandma and family—a true testament to his remarkable character. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our interactions and getting to know such an outstanding young man.”  

Carson Russell: Staff writer and reporter

Carson Russell has attended Carmel since he was in the 4th grade. He plans on attending Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, where he will study Finance. Russell has always had an interest in business, but the contacts and connections he has made, had led him to pursue the next steps towards the world of finance. 

Russell has been a part of the journalism program for the past two years, where he took the Media and Journalism I course his junior year and joined The Blue and Gold for his senior year. He initially joined due to his enjoyment of writing and covering events. He states that, “I wanted to get into journalism because I admired how sports reporters and anchors carried themselves and how they spoke.” Russells love of sports inspired him to explore the opportunities to cover Carmel’s various sports seasons. Russell’s dedication to his passions of both sports and writing led him to excel in his coverage that was in-depth and exploratory. He took on impressive pieces and used his skill in writing to continually produce pieces that were integral parts of this year’s publication. He never wavered from his integrity and coverage that involved all the aspects and angles that the story warranted. Russell proved himself to be a vital writer and staff member of The Blue and Gold. His talent in writing, leadership with people and ability to connect with his audience will continue to serve him in the next steps of his life. 

Russell has many accomplishments that he is proud of in his time at Carmel. Russell’s Love of sports transfers off of the page as he has been playing with Carmel baseball for seven years. Russell started his Carmel baseball career as a 6th grader back in 2019, so he has been able to see a lot of changes over the years. Russell states, “Seeing the way the baseball program has grown is one of the coolest things I have been able to see. The way our field has been renovated and the number of players we have added is truly remarkable.”

Russell has also been an active member of the Student Government Association, and led his fellow classmates through various different opportunities. He has enjoyed the experience of building and working on his leadership skills. He has had the chance to speak at school-wide open houses, chapels and more. Russell is a well-known and well respected face amongst the halls of Carmel. He has also excelled in his academic career, and was recently inducted into The Quill and Scroll Honor Society for his excellence in journalism this year. Russell is most proud of his hard work and leadership throughout his time at Carmel. He has been a dedicated, well-rounded student, athlete and friend.

Russell has enjoyed so many memories throughout his years at Carmel, but he especially loved his time at Windy Gap this past year. He loved “spending time with all the seniors”, as the school makes an effort to encourage and make the last Windy Gap experience sweet for the senior class. 

Russell’s words of advice to the student body are to, “Take advantage of what Carmel has to offer. Going to a private school is a privilege, and there is so much that students take for granted here. Use these 4 years of high school to grow academically, spiritually, and as a leader.”

Russell’s favorite Bible verse comes from Psalm 94: 18-19 that states, “”When I thought, ‘My foot slips,’ your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” He states that the verse has been, “good assurance for me, and I constantly look back on it during hard times.”

Russell is excited for so many components of his next four years at Samford. Not only is he excited to be in a new place where he will meet new people and have whole new experiences, but he is also “excited to learn. I tend to become obsessed with the things I focus on, and I hope it benefits me as I pursue finance.” Russell states, “Just the culture, people and everything about it. I am excited for what Birmingham has to offer me with school, friendships, and hopefully a job later down the line.”

Dr. Nate Gilson, Russell’s History teacher, states that, “What I admire most about Carson is the sincerity of his faith.  It has always been very evident to me that Carson is genuinely interesting in exploring how his faith needs to be integrated into his beliefs and ideas about the world in an authentic way.”