From the moment the first pitch hits the glove, Big Red’s baseball and softball teams have their heads in the game. The softball team, led by captains Paris Tran ‘26, Paige Sweet ‘26, and Maria Fotin ‘25, has maintained an impressive average, winning four out of the six games played thus far. ​

CJ Smith’s Exeter experience was not defined by the destination, but by the ongoing process of doing itself. In the kaleidoscope of personalities that is Phillips Exeter Academy, Smith emerges as a beacon of curiosity, emotional aptitude, and unwavering confidence. Smith has become an integral part of the Exeter community and is no stranger to assuming leadership roles on campus. He is the Editor-in-Chief of MATTER Magazine, as well as the co-head of Mock Trial and Republican Club. For three years, Smith was a runner for the Junior Varsity and Varsity Track Teams, and in the past, he has been an active member of the Daniel Webster Debate Society. However, his Exeter journey is not one of mere achievement.

On April 15, students were beckoned inside the Assembly Hall for an unforgettable assembly — one that not only inspired an appreciation for the fight against racial inequity in the United States but also challenged each listener to reflect on their own role in building a more just community at Exeter. Rev. Wheeler Parker, the last living witness of the lynching of Emmett Till in 1955, stood at the podium and delivered a Tuesday assembly speech like no other, recounting the chilling facts of his late cousin’s fate.

The third Monday of January marks one of the most historically significant federal holidays in American history: Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Phillips Exeter Academy certainly rose to the occasion, honoring the monumental legacy of Dr. King and the profound impact he had on American society.

By TEDDY CAPOZZI, AMY LIN, CHLOE LIND, CIARA O’NEILL and GRACIELLA POLOMAR  On Tuesday,