The warm aroma of cooking often fills the EPAC basement kitchen while Dr. Courtney Marshall comes in with the day’s ingredients and a comforting smile. Outside of the Cooking Club, you’ll often find her reading a new novel, a book of poems, or getting in a good workout at the gym. In a world and school that’s constantly changing, Dr. Marshall teaches her students how to view life and literature in new ways, and provides a sense of security for many.

On Jan. 10, students swarmed Grainger Auditorium filling the room with chatter and laughs. Students were dressed up, holding a cup filled with chips, strolling around the room, finding an available seat to play a round of Blackjack. It was the annual Casino Night, which started from just one dorm, Abbot, but has now become a popular yearly event organized by the Student Council’s Recreational Committee.

Sunday, 2 p.m. Throughout campus, the chimes of the bell reverberate, signalling different things for different students. Some snake their way downtown for a late lunch out. A few scuffle along the roads, with no particular destination in mind.

As seniors of the Academy finish their regular decision essays and submit the last of their college applications, it is with rapid pace that the next admissions cycle begins for the class of ’27. After being assigned a counselor by the College Counseling Office (CCO), the upper questionnaire is the first big step in the process. This year, they were due on Jan. 12. Composed of a series of questions inspired by the “Common App,” the main goal of these questionnaires is to help college counselors get to know their students before meeting with them. Students are given time over winter break to complete the lengthy form, which is a critical part of preparing for the CCO process. Despite the positive ultimate goal of these questionnaires, the process can be quite stressful for some.

On Monday, Jan. 12, Todd Hanson and Anne Weidman of Access Navigators stood on the stage in Love Gym to share their experience in founding a JSA-based non-profit organization providing reliable accessibility information regarding restaurants, parks, and other public spaces in and around their hometown of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

If we can rewrite a single typo in DNA to stop suffering, what limits should come with holding that power? Carbamoyl Phosphate Synthetase I (CPS I) is a genetic disorder that disables one’s body’s ability to process protein waste.

On Jan. 3, 2026, Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan dictator, was ousted in a covert operation performed by the United States government. Beginning at 2 a.m. local time, the mission, codenamed “Absolute Resolve,” was an astounding military success. It saw no casualties or loss of equipment on the American side.

From business and climate research to medicine and human rights advocacy, Exonians travel throughout the country each summer participating in the Global Initiatives Internship program, which has evolved significantly in recent years. Hosted by Exeter parents, alumni, and friends of the school, students have access to an extensive selection of internship opportunities.

Eager to earn a spot at prestigious Boston meets, athletes from across New England flood the indoor track, ready to compete with the Phillips Exeter track and field team. Amidst the chaos of the jolting starting pistol and the anticipation around the track, senior Truman Yee relaxes in the corner, eyes closed in meditation.

Staff Writer We are the backbone of the paper. No articles, no paper. Obviously. Copy Editor There the best people ever. There so grate at the job-the best on earth. They catch eighty seven thousand mistakes every week. Hat’s off to them. they really make or brake The exonian.

At the Academy, service comes in many forms. Sometimes, it’s as simple as tying a child’s shoelaces, offering advice after a missed shot, or helping a young girl perfect her swim stroke. Each week, hundreds of local children flock to campus to participate in the Exeter Student Service Organization (ESSO) sports lessons, organized and run by the academy’s own students. Offerings range from basketball, volleyball, and swimming to more unconventional sports such as skating and table tennis.

When I first came to Phillips Exeter Academy, I was a member of my middle school’s varsity science team, a nine-year piano player, and played in five sports to some degree of competitiveness. I thought I was irreplaceable (much to my parents’ credit), unique, and exceptional. Then, I met the other three hundred students in my grade.

Climbing up the ladder and walking to the edge of the board, the pool below remains still. For a moment, everything depends on whether you’re willing to make the jump. Diving isn’t just a test of physical capabilities, but also of mental resiliency. While divers are scored individually, the team’s success requires trust, patience, and a strong sense of community. At Exeter, head coach Julie Van Wright shapes the diving team and its community.

On chilly mornings and under bright stadium lights, Exeter’s seniors routinely push themselves to their limits on the field, the ice, and the water. An impressive few athletes from the 2026 senior class are heading to colleges across the country to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level.

“I shipped my ID to Tennessee. I don’t live in Tennessee.” - Chayyah Lewis ‘27

Over the past week, many Exonian fans of “Stranger Things” have expressed disappointment over the series finale. Some were frustrated that the ending failed to fit any of the fan-made theories; others felt misled by rumors of an extra episode said to be released on Jan. 7th. Above all, viewers criticized the conclusion as stereotypical — the heroes defeat Vecna, the “big bad guy,” and order is restored.

On Saturday, Jan. 17, a heavy storm hit New Hampshire, coating campus with inches of snow. However, by the time the Academy woke up the next day, the paths were cleared and all buildings accessible. This isn’t an isolated experience — each time it snows, the walkways are passable by the next day. Behind the scenes of our Academy’s functioning is a unit of hardworking superhumans.