In 2024, the Fauquier High Falcons broke a 22-year losing streak in the annual Bird Bowl rivalry against Liberty High. This long-awaited win came just one year after the tragic passing of beloved principal Mr. Kelican, whose name now graces the field. The victory resonated far beyond football fans — it united the entire community in a moment of celebration and remembrance.

I was honored to lead the designed of the front cover and laid out the inside story, working to capture both the excitement of the win and the emotion behind it.

This layout was also part of the portfolio that earned recognition at the Virginia Press Association Awards.

This layout introduced the new athletic director at Fauquier High School. The lead photo captured a perfect moment: a confident, composed portrait that demanded to be showcased big.

I let the image guide the layout, allowing the coach’s head to rise above the sports section masthead — a rare but intentional choice that gave the page presence and energy. The biggest challenge was fitting the full story on the same page without compromising white space or ad placement. After reworking the ad positions and rebalancing the column widths, the layout came together as if it was meant to be.

The result was a dynamic, photo-forward design that balanced editorial depth with visual impact — one of my favorite sports features to date.

This layout was also part of the portfolio that earned recognition at the Virginia Press Association Awards.

This 20-page special section was produced on a tight deadline — I completed the layout the same morning it was due to the printer. The biggest challenges included matching dozens of photos to the correct categories and winners, verifying business names in real time, and fitting a large amount of information in a way that remained clean and visually engaging.

I also designed all but seven of the ads in the section during an already high-volume production period. To help readers navigate the content more easily, I introduced a table of contents for the first time — giving the section structure and guiding readers to their favorite businesses and categories with ease.

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