The Student News Site of Omaha Bryan High School

The Orator
The Student News Site of Omaha Bryan High School

The Orator
The Student News Site of Omaha Bryan High School

The Orator
Justin Diep

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief

Justin is a senior returning for his third year on staff of The Orator Newspaper. He enjoys writing news stories the most with his favorites being topics local to the Omaha area. Besides newspaper, Justin is involved in National Honor Society, student council, DECA, FBLA and is on the student advisory board to the Omaha Public Schools Superintendent. He also is a member of the Asian American Journalist Association. Outside of school, Justin is a marketing intern for E & A Consulting Group, Inc.

Awards and Honors:

Asian American Journalist Association JCamp 2022

University of Nebraska at Omaha High School Student Media Contest Newspaper Layout 1st Place (2022)

JEA Spring National Student Media Newswriting Contest Honorable Mention (2022)

NSPA Philadelphia Storytelling Workshop Best of Show Award 9th Place (2021-22)

NSAA Newspaper Column Writing State Champion 7th Place (2020-21)

NSAA In-Depth Newspaper Coverage State Champion 6th Place (2020-21)

NSAA Newspaper Layout Design State Champion 7th Place (2020-21)

JEA Nebraska Winter Contest Entertainment Review Writing Honorable Mention (2020-21)

JEA Nebraska Winter Contest Newswriting Excellent (2020-21)

All content by Justin Diep
Deputy Superintendent Matthew Ray will fill in for Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Logan as interim superintendent until the district selects a permanent superintendent. 

Board Appoints Interim Superintendent, search for Logan’s replacement continues  

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
April 28, 2023
Former Bryan High drama teacher Anthony “CK” Clark-Kaczmarek returns to the school 15 years later as the next principal. "It's like coming home," he said.

Former teacher returns as principal

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
April 6, 2023
The Bears celebrate their 5-1 win against the Bulldogs on March 21, 2023.

PHOTO STORY: 3-21-2023 Varsity Boys Soccer v Burke (W) 5-1

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
March 22, 2023
Seniors Yulissa Villagomez and Erick Barrera Bustamante cut strips of the fleece to tie together to create a blanket.

Senior Ashlee Patino takes a pile of completed blankets

Senior Ashlee Patino cuts the edge of the fleece to be used to tie the bundle of blankets together.

Senior Macy Hutfless lines up the two layers of fleece to create a blanket.

Seniors Yulissa Villagomez and Erick Barrera Bustamante cut strips of the fleece to tie together to create a blanket.

Juniors Abigail Jarrell and Sienna Stone tie a stack of blankets together.

Junior Sienna Stone ties a stack of blankets together.

Junior Kaydance Jones brings a bundle of completed blankets into a pile.

Junior Kaydance Jones and senior Bryley Carabantes load blankets into an SUV.

Senior Bryley Carabantes loads blankets into an SUV.

an SUV filled with blankets created during the Project Linus event hosted by the National Honor Society on March 5. The blankets went to Offutt Air Force Base.

Junior Abigail Jarrell counts a stack of blankets before tieing them together.

Senior Cole Rickley carries a few bundles of blankets to a car.

CATCH seniors Cole Rickley and Kaleb Rodriguez load blankets into an SUV.

Project Linus Omaha Chapter Coordinator Ginny Debates stands in front of her SUV full of blankets made on March 5, 2023. The blankets were delivered to Offutt Air Force Base.

[Photo] Community service, one blanket at a time

March 10, 2023
Sophomore center A'mare Bynum jumps to make a shot. He scored 15 points during the game against Lincoln North Star.

PHOTO STORY: Feb. 25, 2023 Boys Varsity Basketball vs Lincoln North Star

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
February 27, 2023
Senior Emanuel Lopez sets up the Urban Agriculture's table to sell floral arrangements during lunch.

[Photo] Fundraising with love

February 23, 2023
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona holds Oogway, the Urban Agriculture’s turtle, during his visit to the school on Feb 8, 2023.

Education Secretary makes his way to Bear Country

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
February 9, 2023
Concluding the tour Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona shakes hands with Senior Bryan Benitez and junior Fatima Davila. After leaving Bryan, he traveled to Educational Service Unit #3 in La Vista, Nebraska to discuss access to mental health support in schools.  

Senior Bryan Benitez and junior Fatima Davila lead the Secretary of Education’s tour of the school on Feb. 8, 2023.

Junior Isabel Rueda-Andrades speaks to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona about her experience in the Urban Agricultural academy during his tour of the greenhouse.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona holds Oogway, the Urban Agriculture’s turtle, during his visit to the school on Feb 8, 2023.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona asks Urban Agriculture teacher Taylor Cooper if he can hold the academy’s turtle, Oogway.

TDL teacher Chad Pick shows off the newly installed warehouse shelving in the TDL warehouse provided by one of the academy’s business partners Lozier.

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona listens to TDL teacher Chad Pick speak about the TDL academy.

Living the Dream, the Bears take home the Social Justice School of the Year award from the MLK Living a Dream Contest for the second year in a row. "They really stepped forward and bared their souls up there, and that alone takes nerves of steel," social studies teacher Nicolas Clawson said. "They represented Bryan well and carried the torch from last year. We plan to keep that torch lit and carry it for years to come."

[PHOTO STORY] Bears Living the Dream

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
February 1, 2023
Freshman Johnathan Mendoza receives the Mayor's Honor Roll Medallion for his speech on the experiences and mistreatment of undocumented immigrants.

Freshman Johnathan Mendoza receives the Mayor's Honor Roll Medallion for his speech on the experiences and mistreatment of undocumented immigrants.

Senior Lizzie Medrano

Freshman Johnathan Mendoza reads his speech about the experiences and mistreatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Mendoza received the Mayor's Honor Roll Medallion.

Senior Daphney Valadez performs a speech inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s commitment to his words.

Principal Dr. Rony Ortega, curriculum specialist Dr. Kathryn McWilliams and history teacher Nicolas Clawson applaud after a student performs at the MLK Living a Dream Contest.

Senior Lizzie Medrano performs her dance inspired by the stigma behind the female body. "I just want to speak out for a lot of women that don't have a voice to say how they really feel," she said.

Senior Lizzie Medrano performs her dance inspired by the stigma behind the female body. "I just want to speak out for a lot of women that don't have a voice to say how they really feel," she said. She won 2nd place at the MLK Living a Dream Contest on Jan. 16, 2023

Social studies teacher Nicolas Clawson and principal Dr. Rony Ortega accept the Social Justice School Award during the MLK Living a Dream Contest from the City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations Director Gerald Kuhn. This is the second year in a row the school has won the award.

Winners, principal Dr. Rony Ortega and curriculum specialist Dr. Kathryn McWillaims celebrate as Bryan was named the school winner for the Social Justice School of the Year award.

Freshmen Bernadine Ambatobe sings a song called "The Feeling of Hurt" with her brother Bernard Ambatobe. The song is partly in their native tongue Swahili and is inspired by people who cannot speak up for themselves. "To see racism still going on and kids being able to feel sad about it and not being to speak up and I'm here to do that for them." Bernadine Ambatobe said. "I'm here to tell people that this needs to change."

Social studies teacher Nicolas Clawson accepts the Social Justice School Award during the MLK Living a Dream Contest from the City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations Director Gerald Kuhn. This is the second year in a row the school has won the award.

Junior Stephanie Herrera and Senior Raquel Burton perform a duet about toxic friendships.

01-16-2023 MLK Contest by Justin Diep_0455

Freshman Johnathan Mendoza reads his speech about the experiences and mistreatment of undocumented immigrants in the United States. Mendoza received the Mayor's Honor Roll Medallion.

Senior Lizzie Medrano celebrates winning 2nd Place in the Dance category with her friends after the contest.

Freshman Maize Sayles gives a speech on the Supreme Court's overturning of the landmark Roe vs Wade case. "Since that day it was overturned, I think it's been a very serious issue for me to get it back reinstated," Sayles said. "So when I was given this opportunity to talk about that in front of a large of people, I think it was just the first topic that really came to mind."

Freshman Johnathan Mendoza receives the Mayor's Honor Roll Medallion for his speech on the experiences and mistreatment of undocumented immigrants.

Freshmen Chade Dol shares a poem based on her experiences with racism.

Giving support, English Teacher Jill Stephenson gives assistance to seniors Dylan Struckmeyer and Charlotte Strazdas on a group assignment.

School maintains “good” rating from NDE

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
January 13, 2023
Dozens of bags sit unclaimed at Southwest's baggage claim carousel at Eppley Airfield. As thousands of flights were canceled nationwide, the airline attempted to send as many bags as possible to their final destination many of which were sent separately from their passengers. Some arriving passengers were able to get a hold of their bags after their arrival while others arrived before their bags. Southwest employees told passengers whose bags were not at the airport to wait in line at the check-in counter to figure out where their bags were.

PHOTO STORY: Travelers at Eppley Airfield impacted by nationwide Southwest Airlines cancelations

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
January 2, 2023
Arriving passengers search for their luggage among the dozens of other unclaimed bags at Eppley Airfield on Dec. 27, 2022.

Arriving passengers search for their luggage among the dozens of other unclaimed bags at Eppley Airfield on Dec. 27, 2022.

Lines at the Southwest ticket counter went hours long as all passengers were directed to the full-service counter to attempt to get rebooked or refunded for their canceled flights or to get a status update on their bags.

Self-check-in at the Southwest Airlines terminal in Eppley Airfield sits empty as nearly all Southwest flights out of Omaha were canceled on Dec 27, 2022.

Dozens of bags sit unclaimed at Southwest's baggage claim carousel at Eppley Airfield. As thousands of flights were canceled nationwide, the airline attempted to send as many bags as possible to their final destination many of which were sent separately from their passengers. Some arriving passengers were able to get a hold of their bags after their arrival while others arrived before their bags. Southwest employees told passengers whose bags were not at the airport to wait in line at the check-in counter to figure out where their bags were.

Dozens of bags sit unclaimed at Southwest's baggage claim carousel at Eppley Airfield. As thousands of flights were canceled nationwide, the airline attempted to send as many bags as possible to their final destination many of which were sent separately from their passengers. Some arriving passengers were able to get a hold of their bags after their arrival while others arrived before their bags. Southwest employees told passengers whose bags were not at the airport to wait in line at the check-in counter to figure out where their bags were.

Nearly all Southwest Airlines flights out of Omaha were canceled or delayed on Dec. 27, 2022 while other airlines seem to have little to no disruption in their operations.

Lines at the Southwest ticket counter went hours long as all passengers were directed to the counter to attempt to get rebooked or refunded for their canceled flights or to get a status update on their bags.

Lines at the Southwest ticket counter went hours long as all passengers were directed to the full-service counter to attempt to get rebooked or refunded for their canceled flights or to get a status update on their bags.

Lines at the Southwest ticket counter went hours long as all passengers were directed to the full-service counter to attempt to get rebooked or refunded for their canceled flights or to get a status update on their bags.

Southwest Airlines employees attempt to locate the bags of an arriving passenger.

Dozens of bags sit unclaimed at Southwest's baggage claim carousel at Eppley Airfield. As thousands of flights were canceled nationwide, the airline attempted to send as many bags as possible to their final destination many of which were sent separately from their passengers. Some arriving passengers were able to get a hold of their bags after their arrival while others arrived before their bags. Southwest employees told passengers whose bags were not at the airport to wait in line at the check-in counter to figure out where their bags were.

Dozens of bags sit unclaimed at Southwest's baggage claim carousel at Eppley Airfield. As thousands of flights were canceled nationwide, the airline attempted to send as many bags as possible to their final destination many of which were sent separately from their passengers. Some arriving passengers were able to get a hold of their bags after their arrival while others arrived before their bags. Southwest employees told passengers whose bags were not at the airport to wait in line at the check-in counter to figure out where their bags were.

Iowa resident Ron Blakenship waits in line at Omaha's Eppley Airfield to find out where Southwest Airlines has his checked-in baggage. His original flight back home on Christmas night was canceled and ended up rebooking a flight on American Airlines to get home on Dec 27.

Washington DC residents Maureen James and Shay Williams bond over their struggle to get back to their homes in the DC area after coming to Nebraska for the holidays.

North Carolina resident Garret Baugher contemplates rebooking a fight back home on a different airline or attempting to get a car rental to drive back home after Southwest Airlines cancels his flight.

Waiting in line, North Carolina residents Hailie Biggi and Garrett Baugher try to figure out how to get back home after visiting relatives for Christmas. Nearly all Southwest flights out of Omaha's Eppley Airfield were canceled or delayed on Dec 27, 2022 "Even if they have a flight for us, we don't know if we want to take it because everyone's bags are getting lost," Baugher said. "So, I don't know what we're going to do."

Four Southwest Airlines planes sit parked at Omaha's Eppley Airfield on Dec 27, 2022, as the airline cancels thousands of flights nationwide.

Seatbelts everyone! Buses line up at the west side of the school waiting to take kids home on the last day of the first semester.

OPS to cut transportation services for 3,000 students next year as driver shortages continue

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
December 16, 2022
Speaking to a prospective student, principal Dr. Rony Ortega answers questions about the school at the OPS 8th Grade High School Showcase in the Scott Conference Center.

Ortega to leave at end of school year, accepts superintendent position in South Sioux City

Justin Diep, Editor in Chief
December 7, 2022
Banana! Principal Dr. Rony Ortega dresses up as Gru from the Despicable Me series for Minion Day during the 2022 Homecoming Spirit Week.

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Justin Diep