The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
The Student News Site of Sunny Hills High School

The Accolade
Michelle Sheen

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief

After her first year on The Accolade as the copy editor during the 2020-2021 school year, senior Michelle Sheen is taking on the role as editor-in-chief. The past year, she honed her skills in interviewing and reporting and is excited to continue growing as a journalist by contributing to The Accolade.

When not running to meet deadlines, Sheen can be found catching up on homework and meeting with her World Wildlife Fund and UNICEF clubs on campus. Her hobbies include reading, journaling and trying new foods.

All content by Michelle Sheen
Reporter’s notebook: A reflection on my journey as a journalist

Reporter’s notebook: A reflection on my journey as a journalist

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • May 27, 2022

I stood behind a line of students, two quarters clinking in the palm of my hand. As I drew nearer to the front of the line, I felt a rush of excitement — the same kind I feel on Christmas mornings...

Keeping with the spirit of Student Press Freedom Day, editor-in-chief senior Michelle Sheen advocates for greater awareness and increased support of journalism programs in high schools.

Using my voice with student press freedom

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • March 4, 2022

Like many other youths nationwide, I took part in the annual celebration of free speech for students. I attended a Zoom workshop on Feb. 23 hosted by PEN America, an organization aimed at protecting...

Sophomore Patrisha Hordista’s “Afflication” receives a third-place award in the drawing category, at the annual Fullerton Joint Union High School District [FJUHSD] Education Art Show. Along with the other winners, Hordista’s work will be exhibited at the FJUHSD board room on March 18.

Eight SH students win prize money from 36th annual district art show

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • March 3, 2022

Eight Sunny Hills students were among the 31 who won cash prizes ranging from $10-100 as part of the 36th annual Fullerton Joint Union High School District [FJUHSD] Education Art Show.  “I’m really...

Sunny Hills Class of 2007 alumna and then-junior Tanya Taylor (middle) rushes to steal the ball at a girls soccer game where the Lancers left the field with a victory. Since her four years at Sunny Hills, Taylor went on to lead her UCI team to victories while also setting individual records; her achievements on the field will be recognized at the UCI Athletics Hall of Fame of 2021 on Feb. 19.

UCI inducts SH alumna into 2021 Hall of Fame

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • February 17, 2022

At 4 years old, Tanya Taylor stepped onto the soccer field for the first time. At 17 years old — and 13 years on the field — Taylor received 2007 CIF Player of the Year and 2007 OC Player of the...

One of the protagonists played by Jihu Park, Nam On-jo (left), tries to escape from her first encounter with a zombie at her high school in Hyosan, South Korea, in Netflix's latest South Korean import following the highly successful "Squid Game." Since its initial release on Jan. 28, "All of Us Are Dead" made its way to No. 1 Netflix U.S.’s Top 10 list.

Dying to watch – Netflix’s ‘All of Us Are Dead’ brings depth by revealing hard-to-swallow problems within society

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • February 10, 2022

Enchanting viewers with the perfect amount of gore and heartbreaking scenes exposing corruption within society, the South Korean-produced Netflix series, “All of Us Are Dead,” brings the standard thrills...

Video: Lancer Dictionary: How to pronounce Omicron

Video: Lancer Dictionary: How to pronounce Omicron

Jennie Jeong and Michelle Sheen • February 10, 2022

Like many other students, juniors Taylor Kim (left), Jonathan Alexander and Myles Luhm return to school with masks on. Alongside wearing masks, Sunny Hills and the FJUHSD took further regulations to prevent the further spread of the Omicron variant by postponing or canceling non-essential activities on and off-campus activities.

Flattening the Curve: SH postpones or cancels live events to prevent spread of Omicron variant

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • February 9, 2022

With the emergence of the highly-contagious Omicron variant in 2021, a surge in COVID-19 cases forced several school events to be temporarily postponed or halted altogether in an attempt to lower transmission...

With the start of the new year, editor-in-chief Michelle Sheen makes the resolution to focus more deeply on The Accolade’s print product and oversee the development of “The Accocast,” the publication’s first-ever podcast.

The new year calls for resolutions to improve The Accolade

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • February 7, 2022

As a sentiment of the new year, I made a 2022 resolution to continue focusing on creating high-quality print work and starting new projects for The Accolade during the remainder of my senior year.  To...

The documentary film “Betty White: A Celebration” commemorates her life and highlights her pioneering in the television industry. Since her debut in the 1930s, comedian and actress Betty White built up a career and left behind a legacy in Hollywood.

‘Betty White: A Celebration’ toasts to White’s brilliant life, bringing tears and laughter to viewers

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • January 25, 2022

“The world looks different now. She was great at defying expectation. She managed to grow very old and somehow, not old enough. We’ll miss you, Betty. Now you know the secret,” actor Ryan Reynolds...

With the upcoming holiday season, empty toy shelves will make gift giving difficult, especially for parents with young children.

Out of Stock: Global supply chain shortage causes difficulties for Sunny Hills students, teachers

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • December 5, 2021

Stepping into the makeup section of CVS, senior Melissa Macedo scanned the shelves — some barren of the products she normally sees — for her usual e.l.f. “Expert Liquid Liner” in jet black. Midnight...

Junior Memphis BellCobb (right) works on a trick with his skateboard in the quad after school Sept. 17.

Rails, ramps, steps — skateboard heaven

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • November 10, 2021

Turning, twisting and flipping before skidding to a stop, people take over parking structures or skate parks on their skateboards as a hobby and sport — one that is popular among the youth.  Particularly...

Accolade editor-in-chief senior Michelle Sheen’s drawing portrays a girl slumped over after a long night of studying in her artwork titled “Midnight Dreams.”

Therapy makes a healthy brain

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • October 28, 2021

I remember flipping through the pages of my Advanced Placement [AP] Psychology textbook in my sophomore year and incidentally coming across a chapter explaining the different types of therapy.  At...

Quarterback senior Max Spero runs to avoid getting tackled during the third quarter of the Oct. 15 game against the Troy Warriors at Buena Park High School Stadium. The Lancers, who were playing in their homecoming game, came away with a 22-20 win that had all the makings of a rivalry affair, especially in a wild two minutes.

Sunny Hills football triumphs in the ‘Battle of the Nations,’ 22-20

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • October 21, 2021

The spectators, clad in black and yellow, swarmed among each other in the student section of the bleachers, cheering as the scoreboard read 22-20, which signified the end of the Friday, Oct. 15, football...

Of the 1,048 students who decided to take AP tests in the 2020-2021 school year, 233 opted to take them in person on the SH campus. The past year’s tests yielded results that were, overall, lower than those of previous years, and students and teachers agreed that online learning was a main factor for the dip in scores.

Overall AP scores drop in 2021 school year with online learning being the biggest factor for the dip

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • October 7, 2021

After a full year of online learning and hybrid learning for some, the 2021 Advanced Placement [AP] tests that students took yielded scores lower or similar to national and Sunny Hills averages from 2020...

Marvel’s latest “Shang-Chi” delights with first-time majority Asian American cast

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • September 14, 2021

Starring its first Asian American superhero, “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the 10 Rings” made its long-awaited appearance as the second Marvel movie released this year, representing the rich Chinese...

A worker drives a tractor Aug. 9 to repave the Sunny Hills High School parking lot next to the Performing Arts Center as the last step in finalizing the $2.5 million solar panel carport installation.

Completed $2.5 million solar panel carports installation offers student drivers 220 parking spaces, more than half of which provide shade

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • September 2, 2021

With the $2.5 million solar panel carports project near the Performing Arts Center [PAC] completed a week before the start of the school year, student drivers get 220 parking spaces available – more...

Based in San Francisco, the national Stop AAPI Hate group has started a campaign to increase awareness of violence against Asian American Pacific Islanders. This is the top of a March 31 full-page ad that ran in the Los Angeles Times.

Yellow Wave: Organizations, elected officials and community members take steps to address AAPI hate

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • May 10, 2021

It was a full-page ad that appeared on the March 21 issue of the Los Angeles Times.  Typed out in a white font that contrasts against the black backdrop, the notice called on readers to report any...

An artist’s rendering of a movie theater before the mandatory coronavirus lockdown. Theaters are finally scheduled to reopen at limited capacity during the coming weeks.

No lights, no camera, no action

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • March 15, 2021

Breathing in the savory aroma of buttery popcorn, the audience makes its way through rows of velvety chairs and plops down into the seats with hands full of snacks and cold beverages. The room fills with...

Senior Benicio Tristan uses his chromebook on the tables next to the cafeteria while following COVID-19 health guidelines on Nov. 5 during break, which comes after third period in the new hybrid learning schedule.

Students, staff adapt to new hybrid learning schedule with shorter class periods, longer gap before break for those with a zero period

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • November 17, 2020

All Fullerton Joint Union High School District [FJUHSD] campuses have now implemented the new hybrid learning schedule, which was used starting Nov. 2 to accommodate in-person and distance learning. “Overall,...

An artist’s portrayal of how the coronavirus might become a danger for those who celebrate typical Halloween traditions, such as trick-or-treating.

Healthy Halloween: COVID-19 pandemic prompts students to scare up new plans to celebrate Oct. 31

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • October 29, 2020

BOO! Ahhhh! A hair-raising shriek echoes from inside of the blood-stained building covered in cobwebs. A group of friends dash out of the haunted maze, running from the zombies chasing after them while...

Sophomore Gabriel Villanueva sports a favorite outfit consisting of a button-up shirt, black skinny jeans, a pair of Doc Martens and accessories like rings and a chain belt. Though he hasn’t had the chance to wear this outfit to school because of the coronavirus pandemic, he has worn similar ones to Sunny Hills pre-COVID-19.

Students upgrading their wardrobes despite distance learning Zoom sessions instead of live classroom instruction

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • October 27, 2020

Since mid-March when the COVID-19 shutdown started and live classroom instruction shifted to online learning, the only times sophomore Gabriel Villanueva has ever left his Fullerton home are when he went...

Junior Luke Weinreich, who is in opposition of banning safe and fireworks, plays with sparklers in celebration of the Fourth of July this past summer in his neighborhood in Fullerton. Fullerton voters will decide on Measure U, which calls for the prohibition of the sale and use of these fireworks.

Nov. 3 elections: Use of safe and sane fireworks could go up in smoke if Fullerton voters repeal city’s 8-year-old law

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • September 22, 2020

The savory aroma of meat grilling in the front yard during a July summer day while patriotic music like “Firework” by Katy Perry or “Proud to Be an American” by Lee Greenwood plays around the house.  Such...

Then-junior Daniel Magpayo (center) gives instructions to Krystopher Bagunu (left) and Leoni Nguyen, then juniors, in the gym during the Aug. 6, 2019, Link Crew freshman orientation. For the 2020-2021 school year freshman orientation, Link Crew had to resort to meeting with freshmen through the Zoom meeting platform because of COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

COVID-19 health guidelines force Link Crew to welcome freshmen via Zoom instead of live orientation on campus

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • September 9, 2020

After three years of holding freshman orientation on campus before the start of the school year, Link Crew had to resort to a virtual one that attracted 450 students to meet COVID-19 health and safety...

The last time world language teacher Soon-Ya Gordon and her Chinese classes visited Chinatown was on March 17, 2018. Here they are in front of El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument, where they learned that to make room for Union Station in the 1930s, the current Chinatown was built, and the Chinese people in the El Pueblo area were moved. This year’s March 13 Chinatown field trip was canceled because of the growing coronavirus threat. Image posted with permission from Soon-Ya Gordon.

Early March’s spread of COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles County prompts school officials to cancel Chinese students’ Chinatown field trip

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • April 21, 2020

Since 2006 and almost every other year thereafter, Chinese teacher Soon-Ya Gordon has been taking her students to this 140-year-old, nearly one-square-mile location near downtown Los Angeles known as Chinatown. Their...

Upon sending out emails to journalism advisers the morning of March 17, the National Scholastic Press Association uploaded this image on its spring convention page further notifying visitors to the website of the event's cancellation. Sunny Hills yearbook adviser Lindsay Safe was among those who had registered to attend the venue. Image posted with permission from Ron Johnson.

Yearbook adviser loses chance — twice — to personally accept awards at national journalism conventions in New York, Nashville because of growing threat of COVID-19

Michelle Sheen, Editor-in-Chief • April 16, 2020

Upon sending out emails to journalism advisers the morning of March 17, the National Scholastic Press Association [NSPA] uploaded this image on its spring convention page further notifying visitors to...

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