Announcing new editors for business, education, and sports
At the Sammamish Independent, we are committed to developing the next generation of journalists among the youth of Sammamish. Accordingly, we are pleased to announce the promotion of three of our students to the editorial board.
Tanvi Iyer is our new business editor. Ms. Iyer is a junior at Eastlake High School. She has been on The Indy staff since the fall of 2023, writing for both the Sports & Recreation and Business beats. She won the Indy Award for Best Explainer for her coverage on the expansion of Eastlake High School. In addition, Tanvi spotlighted dessert stalls from the Farmer’s Market, local music schools, and a state bill to mandate financial education. Outside The Indy, Ms. Iyer is a music enthusiast who studies the flute, piccolo and voice in her free time. She conducts the Eastlake marching band and runs a nonprofit promoting music education.
She replaces Brooke Lin, who will become the editor-in-chief and the editor of the elections coverage beat.
Ruohan Huang is the new education editor. Ms. Huang, a junior at Eastlake High School, has been with The Indy since the summer of 2023, serving on the Education beat. Some of her articles include AI’s influence on students and teachers, an associate principal’s fundraising efforts for cancer research, and post-pandemic academic recovery. Ms. Huang has also written for other beats, covering Sammamish’s 25th Anniversary Reception for the City Hall beat in 2024.
She replaces Keshava Badri, who will be graduating from Skyline High School and matriculating to university in the fall.
Parv Mehta is the new sports editor. Mr. Mehta is a junior at Eastlake High School. He has been a journalist at The Indy since the summer of 2024, writing for the Sports & Recreation beat.
Mr. Mehta’s articles include highlights of state winners in swimming and a piece on the Eastside Catholic football team’s journey to the state semifinals. He also wrote the 2024 holiday lights competition winner story and won an internal Indy award for most articles published in a four month period.
He replaces Holly Heitsch Hoyt. The staff is incredibly proud of these talented and dedicated students. We have no doubt that they will continue to lead The Indy in our mission to provide an holistic and fact-based source of stories that make Sammamish unique.
