Hello and welcome!
My name is Lizzie Sun, a senior at Chantilly High School and Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Purple Tide, my school's student-run newsmagazine. I've taken journalism for all four years of high school, progressing from a staff writer to assistant online news editor to Editor-in-Chief.
Journalism has truly become a huge part of my life. I would truly not be who I am today without it. As I was looking back and compiling my works, I realized how far I had come. I'll admit, I did get a little sentimental finishing this portfolio.
I want to give my last round of thanks to my community of journalists, from the ones I've met and built friendships with around the country to the ones right in room 228.
In looking at my portfolio, you'll get a look at a big chunk of my soul. I've found beauty in chaotic worknights in room 228 and the scramble towards deadlines. I hope you think of this as a story... enjoy!
Here are the articles I've written for The Purple Tide: https://chantillynews.org/staff_name/lizzie-sun/
For context, I moved schools in my sophomore year to The Purple Tide from another publication called The Spoke.
I was selected to represent the state of Virginia for the Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. There, I learned and spoke with Emmy-winning anchors, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists, and fellow student journalists who share the same passion for this craft as I.
I attended the Student Press Law Center's New Voices Student Leaders Institute and am now a Student Leader in Virginia's New Voices movement.
I am a former member of the Quill and Scroll Student Advisory Board, where we created guides to help newspapers that needed guidance.
I took Journalism 1-4.
“Personal Column: How I season my ‘flavor of Asian’” ┃2025 Virginia High School League (VHSL) 1st Place Award for Bylined Opinion
“FCPS enacts first collective bargaining agreement since 1977" ┃2025 Virginia High School League (VHSL) 2nd Place Award for Newswriting
2025 Virginia High School League (VHSL) 1st Place Award for On-Site Feature Writing
2024 Virginia High School League (VHSL) Honorable Mention Award for On-Site Newswriting
Best of SNO
“Swept under: True purpose of education lost in grades, tests” (2024)
“AI shapes future” (2026)
National Scholastic Press Association All-American Award
Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown
9th place in NSPA's Best of Show for Newsmagazine
VHSL Trophy Class, 2024
VHSL Trophy Class, 2025
2024 First Amendment Press Freedom Award winner