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Dana Balmas

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief

Dana is a senior and third year member of The Echo. She is involved with Aspiring Medical Professionals Club, Spanish Honor Society, Rho Kappa, P.E. Leaders, Senior Advisors, and Women's Empowerment Club. In her free time, she likes playing travel soccer, baking, hanging out with her three dogs, volunteering and watching Netflix. In the future, she hopes to become a doctor and work for Doctors Without Borders.

All content by Dana Balmas
In our final edition of The Echo Recommends for the 2020-2021 school year, we give you some ideas to kick off your summer break and express your post-finals frustrations.

May we recommend that you have a good summer?

Aarti Gupta, Dana Balmas, Hazel Booth, Abby Apeland, Jaclyn Bobbe, Olivia Durcan, Sachin Fong, Augustine Gallespen, Isabela Graham, Salman Khan, Ben LeGrand, Enoch Kim, Ollie Mallett, Nwanne Nwosisi, Jena Patel, Jailen Poole, Skylar Serrano, Bhoomi Sharma, Maya Stone, and Amerie Zaininger
May 24, 2021
In the April 2021 edition of The Echo Recommends, The Echo staff could not come up with a theme. We hope you will transcend regardless, even if it’s just because you enjoy the rhyme we created.

April recommends that will make you transcend

Aarti Gupta, Dana Balmas, Hazel Booth, Abby Apeland, Jaclyn Bobbe, Olivia Durcan, Sachin Fong, Augustine Gallespen, Isabela Graham, Ben LeGrand, Ollie Mallett, Nwanne Nwosisi, Jena Patel, Jailen Poole, Maddie Pope, Skylar Serrano, Bhoomi Sharma, Maya Stone, and Amerie Zaininger
April 29, 2021
In the March 2021 edition of The Echo Recommends, The Echo staff provides some cool things to combat the warm weather with.

Spring into break with some fresh recommendations

Aarti Gupta, Dana Balmas, Hazel Booth, Abby Apeland, Jaclyn Bobbe, Olivia Durcan, Sachin Fong, Augustine Gallespen, Isabela Graham, Ben LeGrand, Nwanne Nwosisi, Jena Patel, Jailen Poole, Maddie Pope, Skylar Serrano, Bhoomi Sharma, and Maya Stone
March 25, 2021
In the February 2021 edition of The Echo Recommends, the Echo Staff focuses on work by black creators.

Echoing black voices

Aarti Gupta, Dana Balmas, Hazel Booth, Abby Apeland, Jaclyn Bobbe, Olivia Durcan, Sachin Fong, Augustine Gallespen, Isabela Graham, Salman Khan, Enoch Kim, Ben LeGrand, Ollie Mallett, Nwanne Nwosisi, Jena Patel, Jailen Poole, Maddie Pope, Skylar Serrano, Bhoomi Sharma, Maya Stone, and Amerie Zaininger
February 18, 2021
In the January 2021 edition of The Echo Recommends, The Echo staff provides some things for you to try out in the new year.

New year, new recommendations

Aarti Gupta, Dana Balmas, Hazel Booth, Abby Apeland, Jaclyn Bobbe, Olivia Durcan, Sachin Fong, Augustine Gallespen, Salman Khan, Enoch Kim, Ben LeGrand, Ollie Mallett, Jena Patel, Maddie Pope, Skylar Serrano, Bhoomi Sharma, Maya Stone, Isabela Graham, and Nwanne Nwosisi
January 30, 2021
In the December 2020 edition of The Echo Recommends, The Echo staff has curated a list of things to keep you warm this cold winter break.

The Echo Recommends is comin’ to town

Aarti Gupta, Dana Balmas, Hazel Booth, Abby Apeland, Jaclyn Bobbe, Alice Braun, Olivia Durcan, Sachin Fong, Augustine Gallespen, Isabela Graham, Salman Khan, Enoch Kim, Ben LeGrand, Jena Patel, Maddie Pope, Skylar Serrano, Bhoomi Sharma, and Maya Stone
December 22, 2020
pavlik

Erica Pavlik goes “above and beyond” for her students: how she earned the A+ Award

Isabela Graham and Dana Balmas
December 19, 2020
Neuqua recently held an SAT on October 3rd for anyone who could sign up in time. Students had to affirm they had no COVID-19 symptoms or have been in contact with anyone who has. The front desk was covered in various sanitation items, and hall monitors were around to ensure social distancing.

COVID-19 changes the landscape of standardized testing

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
October 5, 2020
A cultural icon and leader for the women’s rights movement, Ginsburg became one of the foremost leaders in the fight for equality. She paved the way for others to follow her path and serves as an inspiration to many. Though she is now gone, the support in the wake of her death is a testament to the legacy she is leaving behind.

Celebrating the life of Ruth Bader Ginsburg: supreme court justice dies at 87

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
September 19, 2020
This image of a falling man from the Twin Towers led to public outburst of emotion. When asked about the photo, the photographer, Richard Drew, wanted people to view the man as an unknown soldier who he hopes represents everyone who had that same fate that day. Drews photo remains as a testament to the more than 200 lives lost jumping out of the Twin Towers that day.

Neuqua Valley teachers share their 9/11 stories

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
September 11, 2020
If 2020 had a face, I would karate kick it in an instant. PERIODT.

I’m losing it: the thoughts of an extrovert in quarantine

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
April 19, 2020
The details of his hand-crafted work are shown in this picture. He sells the iconic nativity scenes, as well as a variety of Christmas ornaments which are hung from the top of the stall.

Naperville Christkindlmarket features a part of Jerusalem

December 2, 2018

[Video] How to Make Your Own Face Mask – DIY!!

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
April 17, 2020
Located furthest on the left in this image, Lavacchi poses with her squadron after completing some rigorous physical activity.

In service to one’s identity

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
April 9, 2020
Though world-class athlete Cristiano Ronaldo is not affected by the IHSA announcement directly, he is among many athletes in the world fighting to keep up with the sports they love. This COVID-19 global pandemic has restricted the practice regimen of athletes everywhere, which has forced the IHSA to come to a decision about when they have deemed it necessary to return to normal sports schedules.

IHSA announces controversial return date for spring sports

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
April 1, 2020
Tegtmeyer is on the right of the photo. The individual next to him is recognizing all his hard work. They are at the PLTW Summit in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Anthony Tegtmeyer wins award for PLTW Engineering Teacher of the Year

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
March 3, 2020
Pictured from left to right: Ankita Sundaram, Jade Huang, Ritu Meda and Somya Katiyar. They are at their first Oberweis fundraiser of the year where they raised $200. Though it was not required of them to stay for the duration of the fundraiser, the girls spent three hours at the business supporting AIA.

Lights! Camera! Action in Africa lands a role on Neuqua’s growing list of student-run non-profit organizations

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
February 20, 2020
Grace Lee, a Neuqua Valley student, leading a Senior Class Student Council meeting.

Peering Behind the Mask of Success

Dana Balmas and Hazel Booth
January 28, 2020
The Gold Rush Section cheering for the Wildcats as they play Waubonsie Valley High School. Gold Rush leader, Bobby Sommers, leading chants with the Golden Bucket.

Neuqua vs Waubonsie: The War of 204

Dana Balmas and Summer Moore
October 1, 2019
Rachel Stege is swimming freestyle in the 400m race at the World Junior Swimming Championships in Budapest. The American flag is temporarily placed on her cheek as she represents the country on the global stage. Gasping for breath, Stege pulls ahead of her competitors.

Rachel Stege takes the World Junior Swimming Championships by storm

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
September 11, 2019

Minecraft is building more than just blocks in the virtual world

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
September 11, 2019
Listed from left to right: Hanna Beck, Hannah Neuman, and Jessica Chivini. The 2017 girls varsity tennis players receiving their shirts before heading to state. Chivini is the only one of the three players who trains at Acceleration, while Beck and Neuman opted to not take part in the program and were still able to secure a spot at state. Photo courtesy of Jessica Chivini.

Does economic privilege affect the improvement of athletes?

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
May 22, 2019
Mukherji demonstrates how the Arduino program helps him to graph the data that the bracelet picks up. The graph featured on the computer is Mukherjis own results as he tests out the invention on himself.

Neuqua holds engineering showcase for young engineers

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
May 9, 2019
The promotional photo for the eighth season features the iconic Iron Throne. This fancy chair is what many people have died for throughout the series, and what many people will probably continue to die for in their journey for power.

Why you should tune into Game of Thrones before the series ends

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
April 27, 2019
Wilson fills the story with many posts about events around Neuqua. The one she covered from this screenshot is the slam poetry contest. With this account, more awareness can be brought to different activities and ultimately bring students together.

Mrs. Wilson revives @neuquavalley Instagram for the community

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
April 17, 2019
This is Tanejas first time sharing a personal piece of hers at Neuqua, and will be performing on Wednesday March 20. Photo Courtesy of Ela Taneja.

Conquering freshman fears and participating in Writer’s Week

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
March 19, 2019

Valentine’s Day plans you’ll fall for

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
February 14, 2019
A student working on regular PACE activities. Students utilize special materials to make their learning environment more accommodating.

The PACE program welcomes new changes

October 31, 2018
Emma Sherwin visits Rush Copley Cancer Care Center on one-of-three days to drop off all of the care packages. Here are some of the doctors she was able to meet on her journey. Photo courtesy of Emma Sherwin.

The golden Girl Scout

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
February 7, 2019
Sam Swiatek does a move called a layout to catch the frisbee in mid-air. It is a technique that is utilized often in the sport.

Working towards an ultimate goal

October 31, 2018
Kristen Stege is pictured with her two Shetland sheep dogs. The hotdog from the video fell on the dog to the left who has its mouth wide open. Photo courtesy of Kristen Stege.

The new “Tik-Toker”on the rise

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
January 7, 2019
This is the classic arrangement of all the ensembles at Neuqua. The band is on the risers, the orchestra on the stage floor, and the chorus surrounding the audience in the aisles.

Crystal Concert draws people from all over

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
December 2, 2018
Shea Maloney shows off special effects makeup that she has done on both herself and the Naper Settlement zombies. She often takes time to practice on herself to improve.

Meeting Shea Maloney and her special effects makeup

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
November 7, 2018

Changing values in the romantic comedy scene

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
October 11, 2018

Precautions for injury prevention at Neuqua

Dana Balmas, Editor-in-Chief
September 30, 2018
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Dana Balmas