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  • OH PTO Students of the Month: Kiera Szmiga (9); Kayla Nguyen (10); Daniel Sanchez (11); Mason Silverstein (12)
  • Teacher of the Month: Ms. Janet Palmer (ESE)
  • Support Staff of the Month: Ms. Alice Gouvea (ESOL Facilitator)
Lauren Albano

Lauren Albano, Editor-In-Chief

Lauren Albano is the Editor-In-Chief of The Torch. She is a senior in her third year on The Torch staff. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, and in the Olympians Advanced Placement Academy (OAPA). Lauren also plays on the Olympic Heights flag football team. Lauren is interested in pursuing a career in journalism and politics.

All content by Lauren Albano
A pandemic-spurred openness regarding mental health leads to a better understanding and improved coping skills

A pandemic-spurred openness regarding mental health leads to a better understanding and improved coping skills

Lauren Albano, Editor-In-Chief
May 11, 2023
Rep. Maxwell Frost, from Orlando, is the youngest member and the first of Generation Z to be elected to the U.S. Congress.

Orlando’s Maxwell Frost, the youngest U.S. Congressperson, is a progressive voice in a state becoming increasingly red

Lauren Albano, Editor-In-Chief
March 27, 2023
Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, openly heckled President Joe Biden during his Feb. 7 State of the Union Address.

EDITORIAL: Political incivility serves no purpose but to divide

Lauren Albano, Editor-In-Chief
February 22, 2023
Two of former president Donald Trumps (center) hand-picked celebrity Senatorial candidates, Dr. Mehmet Oz (left) and Herschel Walker (right) lost in the 2022 midterm elections.

NEWS ANALYSIS: Celebrity candidates nothing new, but are becoming more commonplace and increasingly erratic

Lauren Albano, Editor-In-Chief
December 20, 2022
An Iranian woman cuts off her hair in protest of Mahsa Aminis death while in custody of Iranian law enforcement after being arrested for wearing a loose-fitting hijab.

NEWS ANALYSIS: Mahsa Amini’s suspicious death after her arrest by Iranian morality police sparks worldwide protests

Lauren Albano, Editor-In-Chief
November 1, 2022
The Select House Committee investigating former president Donald Trumps role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection attempt at the Capitol Building will hold its final hearing on Sept. 28.

EDITORIAL: Investigations into former president Trump’s criminal wrongdoings increasing partisan divide

Lauren Albano, Editor-In-Chief
September 27, 2022
Florida governor Ron DeSantis, with school children as backdrop props, displays the Florida bill known as the Stop WOKE Act he signed into law on April 22. The law went into effect on July 1.

NEWS ANALYSIS: Gov. DeSantis’ “Stop WOKE Act” handcuffs teacher-led discussion of sensitive topics

Lauren Albano, Editor-In-Chief
August 30, 2022
Country music star Shania Twain (left) joined headliner Harry Styles at Coachella 2022.

Coachella 2022 features major musical acts, some shocking moments, big money influencers, and a COVID-19 outbreak

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinion Editor
May 17, 2022
Sasha Romanenko (bottom right), a Ukrainian living in South Florida, shares his concerns over whats happening in his homeland.

Biden Administration introduces program welcoming 100,000 Ukrainian refugees into the United States

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinion Editor
May 11, 2022
Florida governor Ron DeSantis speaks in support of the Stop WOKE Act.

NEWS ANALYSIS: Florida’s Stop WOKE Act designed to limit academic discussion on race in public schools’ classrooms

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinion Editor
March 25, 2022
With scientists saying that time is running out on addressing greenhouse gasses impact on climate change, Pres. Joe Bidens attempt to do so through his Build Back Better Plan lies dormant in the Senate.

Biden’s attempt to curtail greenhouse gasses though Build Back Better Act stalled in Senate by Manchin’s opposition

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinions Editor
March 3, 2022
Florida governor Ron DeSantis has come under attack from former president Donald Trump for refusing to reveal if he has had a COVID-19 booster vaccination.

NEWS ANALYSIS: DeSantis under attack for putting his political aspirations ahead of the well-being of Floridians

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinions Editor
February 17, 2022
While governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo (right), often appeared on his brother Chriss (left) prime time CNN show to further enhance his image.

NEWS ANALYSIS: Cuomo brothers’ hubris led to downfall

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinions Editor
December 27, 2021
Actor Alec Baldwin (left) claimed in a recent interview that he never pulled the trigger on the gun that discharged during a scene rehearsal on the set of Rust, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins {right} and wounding director Joel Souza.

Investigation continues into accidental on set shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins by actor Alec Baldwin

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinions Editor
December 18, 2021
Big Brother season 23 winner Xavier Prather (center) of the Cookout Alliance came under fire for misogynistic comments.

Despite first African American winner, Big Brother season 23 exposes undertones of racism and misogyny

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinions Editor
November 22, 2021
Protests sprung up across the country after President Joes Bidens mandatory COVID-19 vaccination order.

NEWS ANALYSIS: While many praised President Joe Biden’s mandatory COVID-19 vaccination order, many rose in protest

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinions Editor
October 20, 2021
Olympic Heights students, such as those in Mr. Michael Taylors fourth period AICE Global Perspectives class, have been adhering to the school districts mandatory mask mandate.

NEWS ANALYSIS: PBC school district imposes mandatory mask mandate defying Gov. DeSantis order

Lauren Albano, Managing & News/Opinions Editor
September 2, 2021
Twenty One Pilots (Josh Dun [left] and Tyler Joseph) recent album Scaled and Icy ushers in a new era for the group.

Twenty One Pilots’ new album offers a “feel-good” vibe

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
June 16, 2021
An artists rendering shows an appealing version of the new Uptown Boca plaza located just east of 441 on Glades Road.

Uptown Boca plaza to offer a wide variety of dining options

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
June 13, 2021
The Nickelodeon show “Nick News: Kids and the Impact of Climate Change” which aired in April is not the first time the network has tackled issues usually thought to be too mature for the networks target audience.

Nickelodeon special on climate change causes controversy

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
May 12, 2021

Blatant sexism in sports evident in the differences in NCAA handling of men’s and women’s basketball tournament

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
April 11, 2021
With the COVID-19 vaccination becoming more readily available, young people are finding it easier to get the shot.

Teens getting vaccinated as doses become more available

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
April 3, 2021
National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman reciting her poem The Hill We Climb at President Joe Bidens inauguration on Jan. 20, 2021.

On the heels of the Biden inauguration, poet Amanda Gorman is a rising star who represents the best of America

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
March 9, 2021
Security will be heightened for the Jan. 20 inauguration of Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States. He is pictured here with his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, at his 2013 inauguration for his second term as vice-president.

Washington D.C. and state capitals on high alert for inauguration day on the heels of Capitol Building assault

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
January 15, 2021
Many have questioned outgoing president Donald Trumps pardons of his political cronies, such as that of his former national security adviser Michael Flynn (right).

Trump’s controversial use of the presidential pardon raises questions: one being, “Will he pardon himself?”

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
January 5, 2021
New York Congressperson Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (left) and former South Bend, Indiana, mayor Pete Buttigieg (right) are among the newer, more vibrant crop of politicians that are getting younger people more involved in politics.

Younger voters enthused by the younger crop of politicians

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
December 1, 2020
Spending Halloween night with Michael Myers from the 1978 film Halloween is a perfect way to scare off the pandemic blues.

Has coronavirus ruined your trick-or-treating plans? Settle in for the night with these classic Halloween movies

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
October 28, 2020
Mr. Seth Alpers fourth period AICE Psychology class has one of Olympic Heights highest in-person attendance rates with 14 students on Oct. 20.

School District requires a binding decision on in-person or virtual instruction for the remainder of the first semester

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
October 20, 2020
Is there a direct relation between procrastination and grades? Probably not so much.

Is there a direct relation between procrastination and grades? Probably not so much.

Lauren Albano, Staff Writer
October 1, 2020
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Lauren Albano