The Newsroom

The Wildcat is one of the oldest continuously published scholastic publications in Orange County, with the first volume, a four-page demitab-sized newspaper, debuting in 1927.

The publication is maintained and produced by the student-journalists in Brea Olinda High School’s fourth period Journalism: News Media and Advanced Journalism: The Wildcat classes. Staff members, usually numbering between 15 and 25 and ranging from ninth to twelfth grade, work under the supervision of a credentialed faculty member.

The content of the Wildcat reflects only the views of the Wildcat staff, and not BOHS or BOUSD administration and staff, and the Wildcat does not involve administrators in prior review.

The Wildcat is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), the Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), the Southern California Journalism Education Association (SCJEA), and the Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA).

Mission Statement

The Wildcat strives to inform, educate, entertain, and empower its readers at Brea Olinda High School, the larger Brea community, and beyond, by providing accurate, relevant, and timely news while upholding the principles of free speech and a free press. BOHS and BOUSD administrators support the First Amendment rights of its student journalists. We strive to be a forum for diverse voices, ideas, and opinions, and to hold those in power accountable.

Awards

2025-2026
- National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA) Online Pacemaker
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA) Silver Crown
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off 1st Place Online Best of Show North Division
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off Editorial Writing – Quyen Anderson / 1st Place (North)
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off News Photography – Issabella Garcia / 2nd Place
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off Sports Writing – Siena Codekas / 5th Place (North)
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off Feature Writing – Sophia Peñalba / 7th Place (North)
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off News Writing – Dara Aung-Pfingsten / 8th Place (North)
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off Editorial Cartooning – Ellice Yoo / 8th Place
- Southern California Journalism Education Association (SCJEA) Write-Off 2026 California All-Stars 3rd Place Website
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Artwork – Raina Kim / 1st Place
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Sports Writing – Siena Codekas / 3rd Place
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Comic Strip – Callie Lonowski / Honorable Mention
- SNO Distinguished Site
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Multimedia
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Continuous Coverage
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Story Page Excellence
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Site Excellence
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Audience Engagement
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- Best of SNO / “‘Euphoria’ Season 3 Trades Substance For Spectacle” by Quyen Anderson
- Best of SNO / “Played For Laughs: Television’s Dangerous Distortion of Reality” by Quyen Anderson
- Best of SNO / “The World They Warned Us About” by Charlotte Nethers
- Best of SNO / “‘Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally’ Review: The Refreshing Contradictions of Harry Styles” by Quyen Anderson
- Best of SNO / “Will the MCU Finall Get the X-Men Right?” by Bonnie Zuniga
- Best of SNO / “The Right to be Heard” by the Wildcat Editorial Board
- Best of SNO / “BOHS Students March to Civic Center to Protest ICE Actions” by Allison Chun
- Best of SNO / “Aiga, On and Off the Field” by Siena Codekas
- Best of SNO / “Music, Passion, Excellence: Adrian Sanchez (’24) and the World Famous Sonic Boom of the South Marching Band” by Elleanna Vannarath and Sophia M. Peñalba
- Best of SNO / “Laying Foundations” by Sofia M. Peñalba
- Best of SNO / “Wildcats Slip, Slide Past Irvine to Reach CIF Division 8 Title Game” by Siena Codekas
- Best of SNO / “‘The Same Backward as Forward’ Review: Flipped Narratives” by Dara Aung-Pfingsten
- Best of SNO / “Leveling Up: Rubik’s Speedcuber Jayden Jung (’28) Ranked 37th in Nation” by Sofia Rodriguez
- Best of SNO / “Yo, Brea, Brea, It’s ‘Yo Gabba Gabba!'” by Charlotte Nethers
- Best of SNO / “The Wildcat Goes Behind the Scenes With Eric ‘Zeke’ Zeker” by Siena Codekas
- Best of SNO / “Generation V(iolence)” by Quyen Anderson
- Best of SNO / “VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: The Young Journalists Initiative” by Evelyn Nethers
- Best of SNO / “‘The Life of a Showgirl’ Review: Taylor Swift Cosplays as Daisy Buchanan on New Album”
- Best of SNO / “Nov. 4 Special Election to Determine Brea’s Political Future” by Allison Chun
- Best of SNO / “Team Conrad or Team Jeremiah: The Summer I Turned Pretty Phenomenon” by Charlotte Nethers
- Best of SNO / “Righting a Wrong” by Quyen Anderson
2024-2025
- NSPA Seattle Best of Show 2nd Place Website (Fewer Than 1800 Students)
- NSPA Seattle Best of Show Reporting: Feature Story – Siena Codekas / 2nd Place
- NSPA Seattle Best of Show Reporting: News Story – Lauren Ko / 2nd Place
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off 1st Place Online Best of Show North Division
- Southern California Journalism Education Association (SCJEA) 2025 California All-Stars 2nd Place Website
- SNO Distinguished Site
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Multimedia
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Continuous Coverage
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Story Page Excellence
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Site Excellence
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Audience Engagement
  - SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- Best of SNO / “Kim Twins’ Parallel Paths Lead to Full-Ride Questbridge Scholarships” by Lauren Ko
- Best of SNO / “Missing the Point” by Sofia Rodriguez
- Best of SNO / “‘Snow White’ Review: Disney’s Latest Live-Action Remake Fails to Capture the Magic of Original” by Charlotte Nethers
- Best of SNO / “‘The Rose Bargain’ Review: Romantic Fantasy, With a Magical Twist” by Charlotte Nethers
- Best of SNO / “Just Coworkers” by Karla Yoell
- Best of SNO / “Egg Shortages, Price Hikes Hit Brea as Bird Flu Surges” by Lauren Ko
- Best of SNO / “Szary Sister Synergy” by Siena Codekas
- Best of SNO / “Breaking the Spell of Tradition: The Evolution of the Disney Princess” by Charlotte Nethers
- Best of SNO / “Will ‘Wicked’ Defy Gravity?” by Charlotte Nethers
- Best of SNO / “A Picture Has a Thousand Consequences” by Sofia Rodriguez
- Best of SNO / “Classes, Campus Activities Canceled Due to Shooting Threat” by Lauren Ko
- Best of SNO / “Championship Seasons” by Siena Codekas
- Best of SNO / “Joker: Folie a Deux Review: A Haunting Symphony of Love and Madness” by Kaedin James Ensminger Fluegal
- Best of SNO / “Wendy’s Krabby Patty is a Lazy Money Grab” by Azilynn Fuerte
- Best of SNO / “The Muting of Queer Music” by Olivia Chappell
- Best of SNO / “Uglies Review: Divergent Meets the Kissing Booth in This Netflix Time-Waster” by Olivia Chappell
- Best of SNO / “Every Vote Counts” by the Wildcat Editorial Board
- Best of SNO / “BOHS Cell Phone Policy Falls Short” by Sofia Rodriguez
2023-2024
- National Scholastic Press Association 2024 Online Pacemaker Finalist
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off 1st Place Online Best of Show Division 2
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Personal Opinion: Off-Campus Issues – Eleonora Segura / 1st Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Personal Opinion: On-Campus Issues – Eleonora Segura / 3rd Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award General Feature – Eleonora Segura / 3rd Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Single Spot News Photograph – Issabella Garcia / 2nd Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Single Sports Photograph – Jacob An / Honorable Mention
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Photography Portfolio of Work – Issabella Garcia / 2nd Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Interactive Graphic – Ellen Kim / Honorable Mention
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Story Page Excellence
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Site Excellence
- Best of SNO / “BOTA, CSEA Members Protest For Salary Increase at Rally, Board Meeting” by Ellen Kim
- Best of SNO / “Record Rainfall Drenches Orange County, BOHS” by Lauren Ko
- Best of SNO / “Teal Punctuates Fits With Eye-Catching Kicks” by Lauren Ahn
- Best of SNO / “Generation (A)pathetic” by Sofia Rodriguez
- Best of SNO / “From Classrooms to Courtrooms: Montana Youth Win Battle For Greener Future” by Ellie Segura
- Best of SNO / “Too Close to Home” by Ellie Segura
- Best of SNO / “One Killed at Brea Apartment Complex; Suspect Apprehended” by Lauren Ko
2022-2023
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- Best of SNO / “Embracing the ‘B’ in HBCU” by Gaby Smith
2021-2022
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- Best of SNO / “Think Before You Post: Social Media Activity Impacts College Admissions” by Doyon Kim
- Best of SNO / “Teen Drivers Hit Hard by Soaring Gas Prices” by Karis Choi, Jasmine Youn
- Best of SNO / “517 Days Later: Students, Staff React to First Week Back” by Karis Choi, Jasmine Youn
2020-2021
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Comic Strip – Makayla Huerta / 1st Place
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Comic Strip – Makayla Huerta / 5th Place
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Editorial Cartoon – Makayla Huerta / 4th Place
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Illustration – Makayla Huerta / Honorable Mention
- National Scholastic Press Association Best News Story – Doyon Kim / Honorable Mention
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award News Writing – Doyon Kim / 1st Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Headline Writing – Doyon Kim / 3rd Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Computer Generated Art/Illustration – Makayla Huerta / 1st Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Cartooning – Makayla Huerta / 1st Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Cartooning – Makayla Huerta / Certificate of Merit
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Hand Drawn Illustration – Makayla Huerta / 2nd Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Hand Drawn Illustration – Makayla Huerta / 3rd Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Cartoon Portfolio of Work – Makayla Huerta / 1st Place
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Award Spot News Photograph – Alexis Alexander / 3rd Place
- SNO Distinguished Sites Badge: Excellence in Writing
- Best of SNO / “The Klapp Family: Two Generations of Softball Success” by Cheyenne Arredondo
- Best of SNO / “Barrera (’09) Builds Bodies and Communities as Owner, CEO of Faster Fitness Gym” by Doyon Kim, Karis Choi
- Best of SNO / “The Lies of Diet Culture” by Jasmine Youn, Karis Choi
- Best of SNO / “A Dark Day on Capitol Hill” by Melissa Perez, Callie Yates
- Best of SNO / “BOUSD Board of Education Seat Determined by Roll of Dice” by Doyon Kim
- Best of SNO / “Blue Ridge Fire Forces Evacuations” by Doyon Kim and Jared Corona
2017-2018
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Infograph – Matthew Moon / Honorable Mention
2016-2017
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Infograph – Matthew Moon / 4th Place
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Illustration – Amy Yoon / Honorable Mention
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Cartoon – Deziree Cervantes / Honorable Mention
2014-2015
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Page Design – Astyr Ko / Honorable Mention
2013-2014
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Sports Writing – Noelle Gracia / Honorable Mention
2012-2013
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Sports Photo – Trent Preston / Honorable Mention
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Illustration – Megan Moberly / Honorable Mention
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Infograph – Selina Che / 5th Place
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off Division I Print Best of Show
2011-2012
- Fullerton College Journalism Department Best Overall Newspaper – 1st Place
2010-2011
- National Scholastic Press Association Best Page One Design – Deborah Kim / 2nd Place
- Fullerton College Journalism Department Best Overall Newspaper – 1st Place
- Fullerton College Journalism Department Best News Writing – Storm Roy / 4th Place
- Fullerton College Journalism Department Best Sports Writing – Matt Schade / 1st Place
- Fullerton College Journalism Department Best Sports Writing – Storm Roy / 2nd Place
- Fullerton College Journalism Department Best Opinion Writing – Neha Ansari / 2nd Place
- Fullerton College Journalism Department Best Feature Writing – Ida Mojadad / 3rd Place
- Fullerton College Journalism Department Best Photograph – Ryan Corbett / 3rd Place
2009-2010
- National Scholastic Press Association Online Pacemaker/Best Website – Chelsea Yeh / Finalist
1981-1982
- Southern California Journalism Education Association (SCJEA) Write-Offs Feature Writing – Gaelen McAllister / 7th Place
- Orange County Journalism Education Association (OCJEA) Write-Off Feature Writing – Gaelen McAllister / 2nd Place
1957-1958
- Columbia Scholastic Press Association 300-500 Student Enrollment Division – 3rd Place
- Santa Ana College Journalism Workshop Special Edition – 2nd Place
- Santa Ana College Journalism Workshop Best News Story – Priscilla Taylor / 2nd Place
- Santa Ana College Journalism Workshop Best Sports Story – Ron Butterfield / Honorable Mention
- Santa Ana College Journalism Workshop Best Feature Story – Gregg Hopkins / Honorable Mention
- Santa Ana College Journalism Workshop Best All-Around Journalist – Gregg Hopkins / 2nd Place
1953-1954
- The Wildcat was rated “Excellent” at the University of Redlands Journalism Day.

Editors-in-Chief

2025-2026 – Siena Codekas
2024-2025 – Lauren Ko (Vanderbilt University)
2023-2024 – Ellen Kim (UCLA)
2021-2022 – Doyon Kim (NYU)
2020-2021 – Doyon Kim
2019-2020 – Nathan Phillips (CSU Fullerton)
2018-2019 – Kenneth Kim (USC)
2017-2018 – Samantha Magpantay (Brown University), Matthew Moon (UC Berkeley)
2016-2017 – Samantha Magpantay, Matthew Moon
2015-2016 – Anabel King (UCSD), Astyr Ko (Cornell University), Stacy Uhm (USC)
2014-2015 – Jessica Yim (CSU Long Beach), Betty Lee (UCLA)
2013-2014 – Sharon Cho (CSU San Francisco)
2012-2013 – Joy Kim (Trinity College)
2011-2012 – Matt Schade (Notre Dame), Anar Bata (UPenn)
2010-2011 – Hwa Eun Kim (Cornell University)
2009-2010 – Emily Liu (Brown University)
2008-2009 – Chan Young Kim (Cornell University), Theresa Lee (UC Berkeley), Pauline Tan (UC Berkeley)
2007-2008 – Kylie Rogers (Columbia University)
2006-2007 – Sarah Jo (UCLA), Farah Cho (UCLA)
2005-2006 – Joseph Lee (UCSD)
2004-2005 – Mussarat Bata (Brown University), Sunny Chang (USC)

Adviser

Alex Koers, a 1996 graduate of Whittier College, served as adviser of the Wildcat from 2004 to 2022, and 2023 to the present, and has been teaching high school English since 1998. He may be reached at [email protected].