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The Student News Site of Rock Hill High School

Hill Top Times
The Student News Site of Rock Hill High School

Hill Top Times
The Student News Site of Rock Hill High School

Hill Top Times
Tolu Oyesanya

Tolu Oyesanya, Hill Top Times Editor-in-Chief

Tolu Oyesanya is a senior and the Hill Top Times Editor-in-Chief for the 2024–2025 school year. She enjoys discovering new music, playing instruments, reading and writing (of course). She especially loves bossa nova and sunshine/baroque pop, and she’ll talk about music with anyone who’ll listen. In 2024, she earned Honorable Mentions in both News-Feature Story and Feature Photo at the TAJE Best in Texas awards. Her life goal is to read as many poems as possible.

All content by Tolu Oyesanya
With a photo collage, Editor-in-Chief Tolu Oyesanya looks back on her experiences in the journalism program and high school overall. She will attend Southern Methodist University studying English and computer science this fall.

Senior Column: Back to the beginning

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
May 23, 2025
A digitally constructed image shows a textbook chapter on slavery at the top, with the covers of “Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl” by Harriet Jacobs, “The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,” and “Copper Sun” by Sharon Draper below. Behind the books, words like “children sold,” “men branded,” “bodies tormented,” “lives stolen,” and “generations broken” highlight the human reality often missing from slavery curriculum. (Book covers sourced from Hachette Book Group, Atheneum Books for Young Readers and Signature Classics.)

Make slavery education human again

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
May 23, 2025
In front of her desk, AP World History teacher AJ Lanier holds up a pair of blue sneakers from her extensive collection. “I value pushing kids, challenging them, making them work a little harder and then building confidence through success,” LaNier said. “I want to keep pushing them—that’s something I really enjoy, and I feel like that’s going to align really well with Richland.”

From one empire to another: LaNier closes Rock Hill chapter for Richland

Anjana Saravanan and Tolu Oyesanya
May 9, 2025
Barnes holds up a poster promoting school pride at a pep rally. “[In Student Council], last year I was an executive officer and then this year I'm vice president,” Barnes said. “It’s taught me how to be a leader in the world.”

Senior Spotlight: Evan Barnes

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
April 23, 2025
A digital illustration displays a gravestone labeled “THE STUDENT NONPROFIT,” with “Born Junior Year” and “Died Senior Year” written beneath, representing student-run nonprofits that are often short-lived, created for college applications rather than driven by genuine social impact.

Prestige over purpose: the nonprofit playbook

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
March 16, 2025
Senior Elizabeth Hill uses gouache to create a painting in her AP 2-D Art and Design class, carefully applying each brushstroke. "I've become less stressed from working on my pieces and trying to be the best of the best," Hill said. "I've been content to just draw or paint."

Senior Spotlight: Elizabeth Hill

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
March 13, 2025
It Ends With Us Graphic by Tolu

[Photo] Blake, Baldoni, and the backlash

Andrea Albors-Morales, Reporter
February 12, 2025
A Canva graphic, featuring winter boots surrounded by "#performativeactivism" and #politicalresistance." The visual represents the dual perceptions of online activism—both as a tool for awareness and as a symbol of performative engagement.

The power and pitfalls of “cute winter boots”

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
January 31, 2025
A graphic illustrates Luigi Mangione set against a backdrop of money and health insurance card symbols, representing the systemic issues within the U.S. healthcare system.

Murder or martyrdom?

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
December 20, 2024
Project UCode Africa’s introductory meeting, held via Google Meet. "I envision Project UCode not only giving students a proper set of STEM education or knowledge, but also a social platform, or more so just a way to connect with other people," senior and Project UCode cofounder Akhil Kotturi said.

From Prosper High School to the world: Project UCode’s global expansion

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
December 18, 2024
blackfridayfinal-01-01-01

[Photo] The myth of Black Friday deals

Egla Zeleke, Staff Reporter
December 12, 2024
Librarian Brenda Briley stands amidst autumn-colored book displays. "I hope that everyone can come in and see themselves in not just the literature, but feel comfortable coming to me about whatever they might need," Briley said.

Behind the shelves

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
November 18, 2024
Student sentiments on the 2024 election

Student sentiments on the 2024 election

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
November 16, 2024
Screenshot 2024-11-11 at 9.03.20 AM

[Photo] Taming the monster

Abigail Kromis, Staff Reporter
November 11, 2024
Aiming his gadget, American Sign Language teacher Brendon Feagans dresses as a Ghostbuster with a proton pack secured to his back.

Trunk or Treat!

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
October 31, 2024
During Kids Camp at Hughes Elementary School, sophomore Aparna Uppalapati crouches between two girls, engaging with them as they create a chalk flower on the pavement. “I love children and I’m very passionate about children, so that’s why I joined TAFE,” Uppalapati said. “After being in TAFE, I learned how to get a child to understand [me] better and how to understand a child better.”

Building bonds

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
October 19, 2024
A digital graphic displays the album cover for “The Bed I Made,” featuring illustrations of Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia. Indie-pop duo The Softies released their first album in 24 years on Aug. 23.

Review: The Softies makes a heartfelt return after 24 years

Tolu Oyesanya, Editor-in-Chief
September 16, 2024
Rock Hill welcomes three new counselors

Rock Hill welcomes three new counselors

Tolu Oyesanya and Anjana Saravanan
August 29, 2024
A digitally constructed image represents three of May's national observances: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Military Appreciation Month, and National Pet Month.

National observances of May

Tolu Oyesanya, Staff Reporter
May 21, 2024
A graphic by Tolu Oyesanya depicts a senior meeting with Principal Mouton. “It really shows that Mr. Mouton cares for the students,” senior Semi Akindebe said. “He wants to know what they could do as a community, as an administration, to improve Rock Hill for the next generation that will come. I think that's an amazing thing because the foundation that we started will be there forever.”

Principal hosts one-on-one meetings with seniors

Tolu Oyesanya and Jacob Turner
May 10, 2024
A digitally constructed image shows the transition from the paper-and-pen SAT to the digital SAT. "I think having a fully digital SAT, in a lot of ways, does make it more accessible for students," junior William He said.

Juniors reflect on the digital SAT

Tolu Oyesanya, Staff Reporter
March 8, 2024
Senior Madi Kang stands on a podium at a football game. "Being a drum major has definitely helped me," Kang said. "It's helped me put myself out there, both socially and with my leadership."

Senior Spotlight: Madi Kang

Tolu Oyesanya, Staff Reporter
March 7, 2024
A digitally constructed image symbolizes possibilities of cosmetic surgery, depicted through a syringe.

The plastic surgery pandemic

Tolu Oyesanya, Staff Reporter
February 28, 2024
A group of students begin to step off of stands after taking a club group picture for the yearbook.

The club craze

Tolu Oyesanya, Staff Reporter
February 6, 2024
Freshman Aliyana Sanchez makes a catch on her select ball team. “[Softball has] always been my love sport and it’ll always have my heart,” Sanchez said.

Freshman softball player advances to final round of Olympics 15U selection competition

Tolu Oyesanya, Staff Reporter
December 20, 2023
Seniors Chris Nguri, Nick Butler, Dylan Rhone, Victor Chionuma, Jonah Bowman, and Cyncere Lindsey walk inside together after morning football practice. "We’ve all went through things off the field, and we’ve all dealt with that together,” Dylan Rhone said. “Being able to just vocalize that with each other helps our bond so much.”

“The Goons:” Six Seasons of Brotherhood

Tolu Oyesanya, Staff Reporter
November 4, 2023
Senior Ethan Horsley is pictured playing cello in orchestra class. "My main extracurricular is orchestra," Horsley said. "I’ve been in orchestra every year throughout highschool."

Ethan Horsley: National Merit Semifinalist

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
October 20, 2023
A graphically-constructed image by Camila Ortiz-Calderon depicts musicians Selena, Tito Puente, and Bad Bunny. These arists made significant contributions to the music industry.

Influential Hispanic Music Artists

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
October 10, 2023
A digitally constructed image by junior Tolu Oyesanya depicts pop singer Lizzo with a halo above her, representing celebrity idealization. Lizzo is well known for her song "Truth Hurts."

How celebrity idealization sets the stage for disappointment

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
September 8, 2023
A digitally constructed image by Tolu Oyesanya shows one of the hosts of the awards show, Dolly Parton, and the Star facility. Parton will perform "World on Fire" at the show.

Academy of Country Music Awards takes place in Frisco

Tolu Oyesanya and Lola Swiderski
May 11, 2023
A digitally constructed image created by Tolu Oyesanya shows two outfits from the Met Gala. This year, the theme was "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty."

Top 10 Looks of the 2023 Met Gala

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
May 4, 2023
A photo of a Mr. Penguin Soap package. “I feel like [Mr. Penguin Soap] can become a household name and it can be recognizable in the near future," Jihan Kapur said.

Not all washed up: local teen’s success with Mr. Penguin Soap

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
April 4, 2023
Above is a digitally constructed image of Netflix's 2023 film "Unlocked." In this article, Tolu Oyesanya gives a summary and analysis of the film. The commendable cinematography "takes the audience on a suspenseful journey through the dangers of technology and the consequences of oversharing," Oyesanya said.

Review: Cyberthriller “Unlocked” explores the dark side of technology

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
March 5, 2023
IMG_6149

French Club: More than a language

Tolu Oyesanya and Junwoo Kim
March 3, 2023
A graphic representing cancel culture displays different social media platforms in which cancel culture is carried out on.

Why cancel culture is unsuccessful

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
January 25, 2023
A graphic representing HB 896, a bill regarding social media.

State representative files bill to ban social media for minors

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
December 16, 2022
Sophomore Oviya Omprakash is part of the Rock Hill Color Guard as well as the Bollywood Dance Club. "I joined color guard to try something new," Omprakash said. She is pictured swinging a flag at the game versus Denton.

Hawks Out of Class: Oviya Omprakash

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
November 9, 2022
A digitally constructed image is shown above - Copyright: Public Domain and Netflix

Everything wrong with “DAHMER”

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
October 17, 2022
Rock Hill Round Up: Oct. 31 - Nov. 5

Rock Hill Round Up: Oct. 31 – Nov. 5

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
November 1, 2022
A compilation of RHHS sophomores Chiara Damommio and Madison Martinez's BeReal photos shows the function of the app. Dammomio takes a picture while at band practice, and Martinez takes one in her car.

BeReal is not all it claims to be, and that’s okay

Tolu Oyesanya, Reporter
September 15, 2022
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