The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
The student news site of York Community High School

This Is York
Finnegan Belleau

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor

Finnegan Belleau is a senior and News Editor for ThisIsYork. He also runs the Journalism and Media Club on Thursdays after school. Outside of journalism, Finnegan plays Overwatch for York eSports. Looking past college, he hopes to continue studying journalism in higher education.

All content by Finnegan Belleau
The Special Olympics Basketball team, peer partners and coaches pose for a team photo after a successful season. (Photo courtesy of Steven Westendorf)

York Special Olympics Basketball wraps up a successful season at State

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
March 25, 2022
Samy and Matt Bones featured on Alternative Press.

Members of Bonelang and and Bonzo Squad inspire young artists 

Milan Bishop-Sasaki, Isabel Kachappilly, Grace Bernstein, and Finnegan Belleau
March 2, 2022
Chef Patrick Resing spent time working in Tanzania at a coffee farm before coming back to the United States.

Former York students open Dak-Dak Korean Wings in a successful first week

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
December 17, 2021
Despite primarily serving to-go orders, the restaurant space has a small amount of indoor seating.

Owner Joey Cornell prepares wings and fries for a to-go order.

Dak-Dak Korean Wings, formerly a Little Caesars, is located in Villa Park. Colorful artwork is painted over the walls, while the menu is drawn in chalk.

Superintendent Keisha Campbell cuts a ribbon in front of the new Bridges Transition Center with wooden scissors to commemorate the official opening. (Finnegan Belleau)

Community celebrates opening of Bridges Transition Center, a building for special education students

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
November 18, 2021
Members of York Sports Network broadcast the varsity football game against Hinsdale Central from the press box at the top of the stadium. (Photo by Finnegan Belleau)

The group broadcasting our sports games │ York Sports Network

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
October 28, 2021
Promotional material for the new hit Netflix show, "Squid Game". The series was produced in South Korea before becoming popular internationally.

Internationally acclaimed “Squid Game” makes waves in America

Finnegan Belleau and AJ Swiatek
October 18, 2021
Screenshot 2021-09-27 8.20.52 AM

Senior running-back Kelly Watson scores York's second touchdown. The play put York in the lead for the rest of the night.

The Duke waits for the King of the Couch results along with the groups. The competition involved several groups of seniors dressing up in costumes and playing music in the halls on the Fridays leading up to the homecoming game. The winning team, voted on by the York community, gets to sit on a couch during the homecoming football game.

The Dino Dukes and Duke Skywalkers hug it out after it was revealed the Dino Dukes won the King of the Couch competition. "We were super happy that out of everyone we lost to, it was the Dino Dukes," Duke Skywalkers member Owen Espinosa said. "We had a rivalry going for the past three weeks, so we were very excited for them."

Senior Tim Meade celebrates after it was announced that the Dino Dukes won the King of the Couch competition.

A stuffed Scooby-Doo sits on the couch while the King of the Couch groups play tug-a-war in the background during the pep rally. "I've had this stuffed animal since I was five and it felt only right to bring him," Scooby Dukes member Lilly Hoffer said. "Scooby is the center of the gang after all."

Juniors celebrate their win against the seniors at this years annual Girls' Flag Football game. Photo By Nate Stettin

Juniors Knock Off Seniors in Commanding Fashion | York Girls Flag Football Run Down

Finnegan Belleau, AJ Swiatek, and Milan Bishop-Sasaki
September 23, 2021
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[Photo] The Social Media impact on Gen Z

November 9, 2021
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Boosted School Spirit as Clubs Decorate Hallways All Around York

Boosted School Spirit as Clubs Decorate Hallways All Around York

Lucas Bare, Hannah Brody, and Finnegan Belleau
September 23, 2021
Senior Nolan Fazzini weighs dough to be sold in pizza kits. Food is prepared by members of the program in the week leading up to the event. (Finnegan Belleau)

La Brigade sells pizza-making kits in first event of the year

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
September 21, 2021
The Bagpipes & Drums of the Emerald Society, a group that specializes in musical performances for police and firefighter memorials, honors the lives lost on September 11, 2001.

Memorial Healing Field pays tribute to the lives lost on September 11, 2001

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
September 14, 2021
Beck’s Book Store, located outside the York commons, provides school supplies such as gym locks and uniforms for students.

Freshmen unable to purchase school supplies amidst shortages

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
September 2, 2021
Senior Mira Shortt holds up a list of potential stressors brainstormed by the class. (Photo by Finnegan Belleau)

Teachers at York create Social Emotional Learning lessons for students returning to school

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
August 27, 2021
Kroy Railway Group Co-Founder Connor Polomsky installs a solar powered unit in the county of McLean. Photo provided by @kroyrailwaygroup on Instagram.

Business INCubator’s Kroy Railway Group predicts train blockages to aid first responders

Finnegan Belleau, News Editor
August 18, 2021
The Board of Education hires Dr. Keisha Campbell as new District 205 superintendent.

Meet our new superintendent

Lucas Freitag, Mustafa Valika, Finnegan Belleau, and Isabel Kachappilly
July 2, 2021
On April 12, all in-person students returned to a full eight-period schedule for the rest of the year. Students eat at separate desks during lunch to maintain distancing. Chairs were spread throughout the lunchroom, Commons and Joe Newton Field House.

Students react to returning to eight-period schedule

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Mustafa Valika
April 21, 2021
The influx of students returning to in-person learning means that many will be in the school building for the first time in over a year. While students and their families can choose to stay home for remote learning, most chose to return for the four-day schedule.

York students react to 4 day in-person schedule

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Finnegan Belleau, and Isabel Kachappilly
April 4, 2021
Starting April 12, students choosing to go back to school will be returning to the standard 7:40 a.m. -3:06 p.m. school day. Instead of having four classes a day, the school day will now consist of all eight classes. (Photo courtesy of Google Maps)

School Board votes to return to full in-person learning beginning April 12

Isabel Kachappilly, Mustafa Valika, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
March 24, 2021
The House of Representatives passes the Equality Act, a bill entitled to remove discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

York’s LGBTQ+ community reacts to the Equality Act

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Finnegan Belleau
March 15, 2021
Math teacher Leslie Stipe receives the coronavirus vaccine at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital through University of Illinois at Chicago.

Students and staff receive COVID-19 vaccinations

Lucas Freitag, Finnegan Belleau, Mustafa Valika, and Isabel Kachappilly
February 18, 2021
School board votes on new in-person guidelines for Elmhurst CUSD 205 schools

School board votes on new in-person guidelines for Elmhurst CUSD 205 schools

Finnegan Belleau, Mustafa Valika, and Lucas Freitag
February 11, 2021
The cover of a pamphlet promoting Math Enrichment Zooms for seventh and eighth graders prepared by junior Andrew Brooks.

Math Team teaches middle school students over Zoom

Finnegan Belleau, Reporter
February 8, 2021
The inauguration took place on January 20th at the West Front of the Capitol Building.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris sworn in as President and Vice President of the United States

Mustafa Valika, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Finnegan Belleau
January 27, 2021
Students return to hybrid learning following winter break after last attending school in late October.

Students return to hybrid learning amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Lucas Freitag, and Finnegan Belleau
January 25, 2021
“Soul” takes place in metropolitan New York City, and involves an up and coming jazz musician searching for meaning among a complicated world.

Pixar’s “Soul” presents a unique look at the meaning of life

Finnegan Belleau, Reporter
January 19, 2021
Trump supporters riot and break into the United States Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021.

Pro Trump rioters storm the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the 2020 election process

Finnegan Belleau and Isabel Kachappilly
January 13, 2021
Photo of the food pantry in Glenn Ellyn. Food pantries in DuPage county have been working hard to provide food for people in need during the 2020 holiday season.

As the holidays approach, local food pantries adapt and continue to serve communities during the pandemic

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
December 22, 2020
The Elmhurst Public Library Minecraft server involves many creative buildings, including a scale replica of the library itself.

Elmhurst Public Library creates online community for teenagers using Discord and Minecraft

Finnegan Belleau, Reporter
December 16, 2020
Members of Student Council stand in front of York with signs thanking Veterans for protecting our country. While a traditional Veterans Day assembly could not occur during the 2020-21 school year, Student Council still worked to honor the veterans in the community.

Student Council hosts brunch for veterans

Finnegan Belleau, Reporter
November 19, 2020
Earlier this week, the Associated Press called Democratic candidate Joe Biden’s victory in Pennsylvania, putting him over the threshold required to beat Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris win presidential race; Trump contests

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Mustafa Valika, and Isabel Kachappilly
November 9, 2020
Student casts vote in York's 2016 mock election. The 2020 mock election was conducted remotely.

Joe Biden and Illinois Democrats win York’s 2020 Mock Election

Finnegan Belleau, Lucas Freitag, Isabel Kachappilly, and Mustafa Valika
November 3, 2020
(Pictured from left to right) Juniors Rihanna Roberts, Madeline Fine, Claire Fine, and Emily Fujiwara jumping for their Fun Run submission.

Student Council raises $400 for COVID-19 relief with virtual Fun Run

Finnegan Belleau, Reporter
October 30, 2020
LGBT History Month was founded in 1994 by a high school teacher in Missouri. Every October, this event sees many people learn about the vast history of the LGBTQ+ community.

AS.IS spreads awareness for LGBT History Month

Finnegan Belleau, Reporter
October 23, 2020
Vice-presidential nominees Kamala Harris (left), and Mike Pence (right) debated this Wednesday at Kingsbury Hall at University of Utah.

Kamala Harris vs. Mike Pence: the key takeaways from the 2020 vice presidential debate

Finnegan Belleau, Isabel Kachappilly, Mustafa Valika, and Lucas Freitag
October 12, 2020
The four images above represent some of the possible math subjects students in the team may cover throughout the year. These include perimeter and area, number bases, modular arithmetic, and sequences and series.

York Math Team competes virtually over Zoom

Finnegan Belleau, Reporter
October 5, 2020
A mural of Breonna Taylor at a memorial in Minneapolis. “Say their names” became a rallying cry for activists, referencing the many victims of police brutality.

York Black community reacts to recent charges regarding officers involved with Breonna Taylor’s death

Mustafa Valika, Isabel Kachappilly, Finnegan Belleau, and Lucas Freitag
October 3, 2020
York's INCubator business program's winner for the 2019-20 school year is Kroy Railway Group.

Entrepreneurs from York found Kroy Railway Group, a company focused on solving traffic backup from trains

Finnegan Belleau, Reporter
September 23, 2020

Students and staff adapt to new retake oriented system of math grading

Finnegan Belleau, Contributing Reporter
December 7, 2019
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