We are a small club of Academy students from various backgrounds. We love what we do, and we do it with passion. We look forward to providing you the truth. Please note that the included pronouns include all tenses (except for Mel’s).

Aspen Lawrence

Club President/WebMaster
Editor-in-Chief/News Desk

A senior dryad (he/him/his/his/himself) from the St. Lawrence frolick, this woodland fairy was recruited his freshman year by his sister, then-president Fiona. He learned all he could from her and brought a variety of segments to the table over the years, including news, food, and informational features. Currently, he oversees all club operations with a focus on the news desk, striving to provide all kinds of articles and entertainment to the student body.

Outside of journalism, Aspen is also a member of the Potions Club, the Baking Club, and is the leader for the bisexual division of the LGBTQIA+ Alliance. He’s an avid foodie and a part-time barista at the Thanks-A-Latte Café in central Oshawa, Ontario.

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

Aspen’s favorite quote:

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”
– Oscar Wilde

Virgil

Club Vice President
Chief Photographer/Photo Editor

A senior vampire (he/him/his/his/himself) from the southwest. While his interest had initially been in photography and not journalism, Virgil subsequently joined the school newsletter after former president Fiona and her VP Melusine requested his photos of recent events and games to accompany their articles. In time, this teen vamp acquired status in both clubs, taking over the Photography Club as president.

Besides journalism and photography, Virgil is also a member of the LGBTQIA+ Alliance’s bisexual division. He’s gaining a reputation on Darkscene as a freelance photographer, and he can be seen hanging around the Honey Bees dance practices while he waits for his girlfriend Aurilla.

Photo by M.T ElGassier on Unsplash

Virgil’s favorite quote:

“I used to think that I could never lose anyone if I photographed them enough. In fact, my pictures show me how much I’ve lost.”
– Nan Goldin

Axel de Ardo

Historian
Photographer/Features Desk

A junior vampire (he/him/his/his/himself) living among witches. He joined a witch coven instead of a vampire den, and has stood in as guardian over generations of De Ardo witch heirs. He expressed an interest in photography his freshman year, and Virgil recruited him after he noticed the underclassman’s penchant for flawless edits. Axel is a budding poet as well as a promising photographer, providing submitted content weekly with his segment Poetic Justice.

Aside from journalism, Ax is a member of the Parkour Club, vice president of the Poetry Club, and an organizer for the pansexual division of the LGBTQIA+ Alliance. He lives in Salem, Massachusetts with his found family, and can be found on occasion visiting his partner Sage in London, England.

Photo by Austin Wade on Unsplash

Axel’s favorite quote:

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
– Robert Frost

Caricia de Ardo

Secretary
Informational Desk

If this sophomore witch’s name (she/her/her/hers/herself) sounds familiar, that’s because she was a popular topic of discussion from her first night at the Academy. Cari has expressed a desire to uphold truth and honor from the moment she arrived; from saving fellow classmates to diving into the secrets of some of AOA’s faculty, this sophomore witch leaves no stone unturned. While she hands over most of her research and story ideas to President Aspen, Cari also writes a weekly segment called Magick Mania where she educates our readers on the various magicks, how to perform them, and how to counter them.

When she isn’t penning informative articles, Cari is a member of the Astronomy Club, the High Flyers Club, and is a joint organizer for the asexual and lesbian divisions of the LGBTQIA+ Alliance. There are rumors circulating that she and girlfriend Teagan are working on a webcomic.

Photo by Lucia Macedo on Unsplash

Cari’s favorite quote:

“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
– Roald Dahl

Helena Corey

Treasurer
Sports Desk

An aura seer (she/her/her/hers/herself) from the Chappaquiddick Tribe. Helena is a sophomore witch from the same coven as Cari and Axel, and while she’s very shy, she can be a fan of certain things making her heart race–particularly, horror movies and sports. She joined AOA’s baseball team, the Heavenly Devils, her freshman year as a relief pitcher, catching the eye of our former sports writer Feliks. He recruited her just a couple of months into the year, encouraging her to share her thoughts in a medium that won’t strain her anxious nature. Helena now provides our readers with Sports Highlights in his stead.

Outside of baseball and sports journalism, Helena is also a member of the Art Club and the Yoga Club. Thanks to her unflappable adoration for B-movie horror, there have been talks of our sports blogger starting up a horror movie review segment, so keep an eye out for that!

Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash

Helena’s favorite quote:

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.”
– Maya Angelou

Wang Heng “Angel”

Publicity Officer
Features Desk

A sophomore unicorn (they/them/their/theirs/themself) in a club full of Enchanters and Haunters. Angel is an opinions blogger for the Citizen, providing our readers with interesting takes and discussions on rumors floating around campus. They always adhere to the truth, and are transparent in their investigative process. They were recruited shortly into their freshman year by our then-gossip columnist Arion. He saw the potential in their blunt delivery and attention to detail, and took the equine Hunter under his wing. Angel has since taken over Arion’s old segment Rumor Has It.

Nowadays, Angel combats the abuse of magickal and non-magickal creatures alike as a member of the Animal Rescue Club. They’re also an organizer for the LGBTQIA+ Alliance’s nonbinary division, a tutor for Mandarin Chinese in the International Language Club, and they play alto saxophone in AOA’s marching band. There have been talks of them starting a segment that highlights endangered species around the globe soon…

Photo by Chi Lok TSANG on Unsplash

Angel’s favorite quote:

“And the sun and the moon sometimes argue over who will tuck me in at night. If you think I am having more fun than anyone on this planet, you are absolutely correct.”
– Hafez

Our Guest Posters

Melusine Jordan

(any/he/she/they)

Our former health and fitness enthusiast has returned post-graduation to keep the education train chugging along. Mel shares her Health Tips in a fun, blunt, and satirical manner that highlights the general concerns of the public, tackles myths, and expresses the cold, hard facts as they are. This merperson is currently attending Stanford University and loves all things related to athleticism.

Aerwyna Marvin

(she/her/her/hers/herself)

Our school has a new fortune-teller around, and her name is Wyn! This Welsh elf with adoration for horses posts weekly tarot readings with detailed explanations for all to see. She’s knowledgeable on various forms of divination and is well-versed in the elements and energies surrounding every individual, maximizing her ability to foretell upcoming events and circumstances.

Though not an official member of the club, Wyn offers her services both as a weekly segment and as a personal reading. If you’re interested in having either Wyn or Prof. Penn perform a tarot reading for you, then please send a $3 tip to our club’s Ko-fi and include your name, signs (any and all, if you know them), and your question in the attached message.