Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times
Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times
Naperville Central High School's award-winning newspaper.

Central Times
Jay Deegan

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief

Jay Deegan, a senior, is more excited than ever to be back working on the Central Times. Now in his fourth year on staff, he has previously served as the Print Managing Editor and Editorial Editor. In his free time, Jay is an avid movie watcher and a huge Bears fan (Caleb Williams is our savior). He also runs a freelance sports media business where he expresses his love of sports through all types of visual media. If you stop by the Central Times office, you’ll likely find Jay there. Interested in joining the staff? Come to a meeting!

All content by Jay Deegan
Pumping his fist in the air, Carl Sissac, a paraprofessional at Washington Junior High School, rallies in support of NESPA on Nov. 18 in front of District 203's Public School Administration Center. "I came here to let these guys, these suits, know that they have serious people here that are willing to bend over backwards and they should be compensated for it," Sissac said. More than 100 supporters of NESPA Attended the rally.

‘We’re not invisible’: NESPA supporters rally for increased wages

Jay Deegan and Sarah Segvich • November 19, 2024
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Naperville Central head coach Mike Ulreich celebrates in the background as senior DeShaun Williams surges forwards to convert on a fourth down in a game against Lyons Township on Nov. 15. The first down allowed quarterback Sebastian Hayes to rush for a touchdown on a following play.

[Photo] ‘Unbelievable’ catch helps Central to victory over No. 2 Lyons Township

Lola Schwerha, Staff Writer • November 18, 2024
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On Oct. 18, a racial slur was written on an athletic locker belonging to an African American student. No conclusion has been reached in investigations by Naperville Central or the Naperville Police Department. Editor’s note: The Central Times has opted to obfuscate the full slur. (Photo Credit: Quiana Richardson)

Month after racial slur found on locker: ‘they didn’t do enough’

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • November 18, 2024
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Senior Helen Liang analyzes the tax forms for Youth Voices, a local student-led nonprofit. Liang helped lead free debate coaching with the organization's leadership development team until the program was discontinued in December 2023.

[Photo] Beyond good intentions: why student-led nonprofits fail at longevity

C.J. Getting and Marina Micic • November 17, 2024
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Students on Naperville Central’s marketing field trip pose in front of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando on an overcast day. The group had to return to Illinois one day early on Oct. 9 due to the impending landfall of Hurricane Milton in Florida. (Photo courtesy of Kathleen Barry)

Marketing trip to Florida returns early due to hurricane

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • November 15, 2024
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A computer displays a "storage full" message on Monday, Oct. 7. The disruption affected all students and staff on District 203 emails.

Google misconfiguration prevents usage by District 203 students, staff

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • October 22, 2024
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Scott Elementary was awarded their first blue ribbon on Sept. 23 by the Department of Education.

Scott Elementary earns first blue ribbon award in school’s history

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • October 16, 2024
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Naperville Central staff attended a breakfast celebration for Central's blue ribbon on Oct. 2. (Photo Credit: Jackie Thornton via X)

Central secures blue ribbon

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • October 16, 2024
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Head coach Troy Adams stands on the sidelines during Central’s game against Metea Valley on Oct. 1. The Redhawks lost 2-1 in double overtime.

[Photo] Boys varsity soccer coach hits 200 wins

Emma Coneys, Staff Writer • October 15, 2024
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Cait Swinford, a special education assistant at Naperville Central, speaks at the Oct. 7 Board of Education meeting. The Naperville Education Support Professionals Association is currently bargaining with District 203 over a new contract.

District 203 negotiates NESPA contract

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • October 14, 2024
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9-26 FERPA

[Photo] Confidential student information released in District 203 data leak

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • September 26, 2024
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Senior Makenzie James taps rhythm sticks alongside her peers during Central's new adapted music class.

[Photo] Students find their beat in Central’s new adapted music class

Sarah Segvich, Content Managing Editor • September 25, 2024
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Andy Lutzekirchen was hired as Central's new P.E. department chair. (Photo Credit: 2023 Flight Yearbook)

New P.E. department chair starts year ‘excited’

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • September 20, 2024
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Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Vice President Kamala Harris, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota First Lady Gwen Walz celebrate during the balloon drop on Thursday, Aug. 22 at the Democratic National Convention. The Harris-Walz ticket won 98.9% of the delegate vote, earning the Democratic nomination for President and Vice President.

Photo Gallery: 2024 Democratic National Convention

Jay Deegan, Sarah Segvich, and C.J. Getting • September 17, 2024
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Cars sit in traffic on the Washington Street Bridge on Sept. 10. The west side of the bridge is currently demolished as the east side's two lanes are open to traffic.

Delayed and disrupted: Washington Street faces 3 construction projects

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • September 17, 2024
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[Photo] Delayed and Disrupted: The Consequences of Naperville’s Construction Efforts

Vanshika Shahdadpuri, Opinions Editor • September 13, 2024
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Central Times reporter C.J. Getting interviews Illinois state Rep. Janet Yang-Rohr at the DNC on Wednesday, Aug. 21. Yang-Rohr represents Illinois' 41st District in the Illinois General Assembly, which includes Naperville Central.

[Photo] Youth voices amplified

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • September 5, 2024
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Vice President Kamala Harris waves to the crowd ahead of her speech on Thursday, Aug. 22. Harris won the Democratic nomination for President with 98.9% of delegates in the roll call vote.

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Tracy Rootham stepped down from her position as the principal's secretary after 6 years in the position.

Principal’s secretary steps down after 8 years at Central

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • September 2, 2024
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Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) holds a "Kamala" sign high during the fourth night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Schumer is an PLEO delegate due to his senate seat.

[Photo] Delegates attend 2024 DNC in Chicago, nominate Kamala Harris for President

C.J. Getting, Operations Managing Editor • August 28, 2024
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Former President Bill Clinton speaks to attendees at the Democratic National Convention on August 21. The night wrapped up with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz accepting the vice presidential nomination.

Blog: Diary at the DNC, Day 3

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • August 24, 2024
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2024-2025 Print Archive

Jay Deegan, C.J. Getting, Kate Johnson, Elaine Zhou, and Cheryl Cheng • August 15, 2024
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Girls track brings home sixth place state finish; one individual state champion

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • July 11, 2024
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Distinguished Alumni: Matt DiCianni, Class of 2003

Distinguished Alumni: Matt DiCianni, Class of 2003

Jay Deegan, Editor-in-Chief • May 20, 2024
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Senior Jake Pfeiffer and his mom, Principal Jackie Thornton, walk in Central's honor garden on May 15. The two will share one last experience at Central when Pfeiffer walks across the graduation stage on May 19.

Central’s principal experiences graduation from a new lens: parenthood

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • May 19, 2024
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Senior Olivia Phillips was named the Central Times 2024 Female Athlete of the Year.

2024 Female Athlete of the Year: Liv Phillips

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • May 16, 2024
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Senior Maverick Ohle celebrates a defensive stop in Central’s game against Plainfield North on Sept. 1.

2024 Male Athlete of the Year: Maverick Ohle

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • May 16, 2024
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Tom Higgenson, lead singer of the rock band Plain White T's, performs a solo acoustic set at Central on May 9.

[Photo] Plain White T’s singer plays acoustic set at Central

Nolan Shen, Arts & Entertainment Editor • May 10, 2024
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Freshman Avery Miller winds up for a pitch during a game against DeKalb on April 15. Central won the game 12-2.

[Photo] Softball on a ‘roller coaster’ of season; hopes to regain focus

Evelyn Zwicky, Online Managing Editor & Sports Editor • May 6, 2024
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Seventh and eighth grade Project Idea Plus students spend most of their day learning in “the pod,” a mobile classroom at Kennedy Junior High School.

Opinion: Dear District 203, let’s cancel PI+

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • April 25, 2024
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Varsity boys water polo coach William Salentine directs his team during a game against Barrington on April 18. Sal has coached the team for 23 years, winning over 80% of his games in that time.

[Photo] Water polo coach boasts over 80% win rate over 23 year career

Nolan Shen, Arts & Entertainment Editor • April 24, 2024
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Freshman Alex Beiga holds a Central flag at the DuPage Valley Conference boys swim and dive championship on Feb. 3. Beiga was killed in a ski accident on April 1 in Switzerland. Photo courtesy of NCHS Swim and Dive.

Loved and lost: Freshman leaves legacy of joy after tragic passing

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • April 22, 2024
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Room 218 with temporary walls on the windows (left) compared to Room 218 with new windows (right). Room 218 was one of several that had temporary walls instead of windows due to construction on Central’s east facing wall.

Windows re-installed on east wall after eight-month wait

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • April 21, 2024
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Sophomore Deven Patel sits at his computer trading stocks during his lunch period. Patel has made over 30 times his investment by trading stocks.

[Photo] Sophomore makes ‘massive profit’ trading stocks

Jinan Parves, Correspondent • April 17, 2024
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Social studies teacher Mike Wilson was named as Central's boys basketball coach for the 2024-25 season.

[Photo] New boys basketball head coach named for 2024-25 season

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • April 5, 2024
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Athletic Director Chris Kirkpatrick watches over Red & White Night on Aug. 19, 2022. Kirkpatrick will be stepping down from his position on June 30.

Athletic Director to step down at end of June

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • April 3, 2024
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Central's Psychology Club gathers in the Learning Commons for an after school meeting. (Photo courtesy of Meghan Pratt.)

Number of new clubs begs sustainability question

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • March 22, 2024
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Sophomore forward Malia Shen (27) celebrates her second of two goals during Central’s 4-2 win over Burlington Central in their opening game on March 13.

[Photo] Girls soccer starts season with seven underclassmen, including three freshmen, on varsity roster

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 26, 2024
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Gabe Dickerson, then a senior, pitches in the Dupage Valley Conference Championship on May. 18, 2023. Dickerson and 14 other seniors graduated last year, leaving Central with a nearly entirely new roster for the 2024 season.

[Photo] Baseball looks to succeed after losing 15 seniors, near-entire starting lineup, to graduation

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • March 21, 2024
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Photographed above is the intersection between Jefferson Avenue and Main Street where Shen proposes Jefferson should be closed to cars.

[Photo] Opinion: They shut down Barnes & Noble so let’s shut down Jefferson Ave.

Nolan Shen, Arts & Entertainment Editor • March 21, 2024
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Substitute teacher Madalyn Eathington leads an Honors English 2: Journalism class on March 15. Substitute teacher pay rates have jumped by $20 over the past few years due to a shortage of subs.

Board of Education approves $5 daily increase in substitute pay

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • March 20, 2024
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Boys basketball head coach Pete Kramer directs his team during their 51-43 victory over Oswego in the IHSA Regional Quarter Final on Feb. 19.

Photo Gallery: Central’s boys basketball head coach retires after 33 years in program, 21 as head coach

Jake Pfeiffer and Jay Deegan • March 6, 2024
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Senior Harshee Shah, co-captain of Central’s speech team, practices her speech for the IHSA speech state championship. Shah placed sixth in Oratorical Declamation at the competition on Feb. 17.

[Photo] 13 speech team members make sectionals, two place sixth at state

Nolan Shen, Arts & Entertainment Editor • March 12, 2024
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Jake Pfeiffer was named the Illinois Journalist of the year on Feb. 23.

[Photo] Central Times Editor-in-Chief named Illinois Journalist of the Year

Javen Oswald, Marketing, Outreach and Engagement Managing Editor • February 28, 2024
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Central's chess team (right) faces off with Fremd at the IHSA Chess State Championship on Feb. 10. Central lost the match, but ultimately finished sixth in the state.

Chess team places sixth in state

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • February 20, 2024
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Alex Mayster, D203 Executive Director of Communication, recently left the district for a new job in Hinsdale Township High School District 86.

D203 Executive Director of Communications leaves district for Hinsdale job

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • February 19, 2024
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Kiersten Scherer, a Central senior, busks on the streets of Downtown Naperville. She once made $260 in one day. When she isn't busking, she may be performing in concert halls or walking through Central's halls.

Strings of Joy: senior brings musical magic to Downtown Naperville with street busking

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • February 14, 2024
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A Naperville Central swimmer races the backstroke at last year's IHSA state championship.

[Photo] Pushing past the limit: Overtraining at Central and beyond

Nolan Shen, Arts and Entertainment Editor • February 23, 2024
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Automotive teacher Chris Feid, with help from a select group of his students, built and tuned a car from the 80s to reach 620 wheel horsepower on a dynamometer (blue machine pictured above).

[Photo] Automotive teacher guides upcycling of speedy beater

Noah Rozek, Page Designer & Copy Editor • February 8, 2024
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Central senior Braeden Rodemeyer ponders his next move at a chess team practice on Jan. 18.

Roster depth propels chess team to big wins

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • February 7, 2024
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Sophomore June Waidler practices with band director D.J. Alstadt at a lunchtime technique lesson in Central's band room. Waidler is one of several students Alstadt works with as a part of technique.

[Photo] Technique courses receive mixed feedback from students, staff

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • January 26, 2024
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Snow piles up in front of Central on Jan. 15, after 6.5 inches of snow fell on Jan. 12 and 13. An e-learning day was called on Jan. 12 due to the snow, and on Jan. 16 due to an ensuing cold front.

District 203 calls second consecutive e-learning day for Tuesday, Jan. 16

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • January 15, 2024
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Snow covers Central's campus on Feb. 2, 2022.

District 203 calls e-learning day for Friday, Jan. 12

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • January 11, 2024
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Senior Teddy Stephens is trudging through his last year in high school. Stephens does not participate in any school activities; and says it's hard for him to feel welcomed into the school amid transphobia.

[Photo] Trans student ‘getting the hell out’ of Central

Elaine Zhou, Features Editor • December 20, 2023
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Chronically Absent: How nearly a quarter of D203 high schoolers missed more than 10% of school last year, and what’s being done to stop it

Chronically Absent: How nearly a quarter of D203 high schoolers missed more than 10% of school last year, and what’s being done to stop it

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • November 20, 2023
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The changes mapped out for parking lot expansion include relocated batting cages and a netting extension.

Parking lot to be expanded at Knoch Park; Softball Field affected

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • November 14, 2023
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Dr. Sudip Bose motions to the crowd during his Veteran's Day speech.

[Photo] Dr. Sudip Bose headlines Central’s Veteran’s Day assembly

Evelyn Zwicky, Online Managing Editor • November 13, 2023
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Construction on Central's east wall is set to continue for another two months, while the installation of windows will happen next spring.

Reconstruction of Central’s east wall enters third stage, with costs totaling $593,050

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • November 9, 2023
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Senior Liv Phillips, wearing bib number 2025, races during the 2022 IHSA Cross Country State Finals. The Redhawks would end up placing sixth in the 3A class.

[Photo] Liv: Laughs, loves running

Nolan Shen, Arts & Entertainment Editor • October 20, 2023
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Firefighters exit Central's Little Theater after investigating a possible fire on Oct. 16.

[Photo] Fire alarm at Central triggered by smoke in Little Theater

Javen Oswald, Marketing, Outreach and Engagement Managing Editor • October 16, 2023
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Junior running back Aiden Clark breaks a tackle on his way into the endzone for his first touchdown of the night in Central's 42-0 home win over Dekalb on Oct. 6.

[Photo] Central Football clinches DVC title with win over DeKalb

Jake Pfeiffer, Editor-in-Chief • October 6, 2023
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Students at Ellsworth Elementary celebrate winning a Blue Ribbon during their walk to school festivities.

Ellsworth Elementary wins Blue Ribbon award

Jay Deegan, Print Managing Editor • October 5, 2023
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