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Two graduating Fairfax County seniors have used journalism not only to report on their schools, but also to elevate overlooked voices, mentor other writers and serve their communities.
Zoe Ligairi of Annandale High School and Lizzie Sun of Chantilly High School each built an award-winning record by tackling difficult subjects with empathy and extending their work beyond the newsroom.
Ligairi, co-editor-in-chief of Annandale’s student newspaper, The A-Blast, published nearly 75 stories covering school budget pressures, student life, food insecurity and other community issues.
One of her most significant assignments followed the death of Annandale sophomore Annie Vu in a car crash on Interstate 495. Ligairi interviewed Vu’s grieving relatives and helped document the life of a student whose death deeply affected the school.
Her reporting and leadership earned her the Virginia High School League Student Journalist of the Year title and the Col. Charles E. Savedge Scholarship. During her tenure, The A-Blast expanded its audience, improved its digital presence and continued to receive national recognition.
Adviser Alan Weintraut called Ligairi “always in motion, full of passion and professionalism” and described her as “the best teaching editor in my career.” Ligairi has said journalism gave her confidence and helped her recognize the strength of her own voice.
Her involvement reaches across Annandale High School. She founded and leads the Pacific Heritage Club, serves as co-president of the Quill and Scroll Honor Society and is secretary of the National Social Studies Honor Society. She also tutors through the Atoms Writing Center, participates in several other clubs and honor societies, and competes in varsity volleyball and softball while pursuing an International Baccalaureate diploma.
Away from school, Ligairi enjoys concerts, thrifting, traveling, outdoor activities and time with friends and family. She plans to study Public Policy and Leadership at the University of Virginia this fall.
At Chantilly High School, Sun has developed her own record of ambitious reporting as editor-in-chief of The Purple Tide. Her work has addressed student culture, artificial intelligence, identity, advocacy and other complex community topics.
Sun was named Virginia Student Journalist of the Year, while The Purple Tide received the 2026 First Amendment Press Freedom Award for the 12th consecutive year. The honor recognizes schools that protect First Amendment principles and allow student journalists to make final editorial decisions.
She has also used creative writing to support charitable work. Sun authored the children’s book Milo’s Secret & the Helper Animals, in which a young character learns about kindness, compassion and helping others with support from animal friends. Proceeds benefit charitable causes.
Chantilly English and journalism teacher Kris Brown praised Sun as both a writer and a leader. Brown pointed to her reporting on student protests, AI in education and collective bargaining, as well as her children’s book benefiting the Literacy Foundation and her work with the Virginia Legislature on New Voices.
“Lizzie wants to make life better for others,” Brown said. “I will miss her, but I know that she will do amazing things for her community.”
Sun also writes poetry, reads and participates in advocacy efforts. As a member of Chantilly’s Writing Center, she helps other students develop their writing, and she competes on the school’s tennis team. She plans to attend the University of Toronto this fall.
Although Ligairi and Sun followed different paths, both approached journalism as a way to listen carefully, ask meaningful questions and help people understand one another. As they graduate, they leave their schools with stronger student publications, younger journalists to carry on the work and stories that captured important moments in their communities.