The student news site of Downers Grove North High School

DGN Omega
The student news site of Downers Grove North High School

DGN Omega
The student news site of Downers Grove North High School

DGN Omega
Olivia Shirk

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor

Starting her first year on staff of the Omega, Olivia is thrilled to be a Photography Editor and to document this unique year of school. At DGN, Olivia is a four-year member of the swim team, a part of Empowerment club, Direct Action, Northstars, and NHS. Besides organizing photoshoots with friends, Olivia spends time on Pinterest gaining inspiration for her next shoot. When she is not taking photos you can most likely find her discovering new indie pop music, bingeing Harry Potter movies, or spending a little too much time on Tiktok and Twitter. You can contact her @[email protected] or through her photography page on Instagram @o.shirkphoto. 

All content by Olivia Shirk
SUPPORT : Ryan Wendt (left) and Violet Mitchell (right) encourage each other during a game.

[Photo] Humans of DGN: Violet Mitchell keeps optimistic outlook with torn ACL

Molly St. Clair, Feature Editor
September 22, 2021
Senior Arden Zajack

[Photo] Girls’ soccer starting season strong after last season cancelled

Claire Creedon, In-Depth Editor
May 12, 2021
SOLIDARITY: Protestors march through the street of Downers Grove June 7.

[Photo] Looking back on a year like no other

Amelia Carlson and Madeline Schallmoser
May 11, 2021
THE SEARCH: Olivia Shirk and Vanessa Lopez are on the hunt for the supreme chicken sandwich in the land.

The great chicken sandwich debate, finally resolved

Olivia Shirk and Vanessa Lopez
May 11, 2021
ON A QUEST: Olivia Shirk and Vanessa Lopez are on the hunt for the best breakfast sandwich.

Breakfast sandwich bonanza

Vanessa Lopez and Olivia Shirk
March 22, 2021
LOOKING BACK: March 13 marks one year since COVID-19 shut down.

[Photo] One year since March 13: looking back on a historic year

Gretchen Lucina and Timmy Ryan
March 13, 2021
BOREDOM OR RISK? Teens who use Omegle run the risk of hackers and other online threats.

[Photo] Omegle provides a risky escape for bored teenagers

Molly St Clair, Staff Writer
March 4, 2021
WORKING TOGETHER: Support staffers spend time constructing and organizing students' saliva kits.

[Photo] Month of kindness: recognizing jobs around the school, their fight against COVID-19

Maggie Ward, Feature Editor
February 27, 2021
Netflix's original documentary displaying Elisa Lam in the well-recognized elevator video footage.

Review: Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
February 23, 2021
DROP OFF: Students place their saliva tubules in a designated bucket on Feb. 18

[Photo] CDC update metric guidelines, saliva screenings become optional

Amelia Carlson, Editor-in-Chief
February 19, 2021
WORLD'S GREATEST ATHLETE?: Individual athletes should be recognized for their performances, not by a meaningless title.

[Photo] The absurdity of the ‘World’s Greatest Athlete’

Amelia Carlson, Editor-in-Chief
February 18, 2021
WELCOMING STUDENTS: Beginning second semester, the doors of DGN have been inviting students in through a hybrid schedule everyday. Unfortunately, only 65% of students are choosing to participate.

[Photo] DGN wants you back

Maggie Ward, Feature Editor
February 17, 2021
PACKING IT UP: Staff members package up the saliva test kits that would soon be passed out to students.

District 99 staff members package saliva testing kits

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
February 12, 2021
WE ARE NOT A VIRUS: The critic: Emma Cho, half-Filipino, half-Korean, 100% Asian American.

[Photo] Review: “Attack On Asians: The Final Season”

Emma Cho, In-Depth Editor
February 12, 2021
Dunkin' Donuts' Valentine's Day menu consists of the Pink Velvet Macchiato, Mocha Macchiato, and specialty donuts.

Seasonal Selection: The Omega’s Valentines

Amelia Carlson, Vanessa Lopez, and Olivia Shirk
February 9, 2021
An illustration of the texts exchanged between Gwen Casten (11) and her father, Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) the day of the insurrection.

[Photo] Two perspectives on the insurrection: A congressman and his daughter

Claire Gorey, Opinion Editor
February 8, 2021
COVID LESSONS: Mental health, new hobbies, and hand sanitizer are have quickly become the new normal admits the pandemic.

A letter to COVID-19

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
February 2, 2021

Illinois legislators send proposed education bills

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
January 26, 2021
Trashing the ocean, one mask and take-out bag at a time

Trashing the ocean, one mask and take-out bag at a time

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
January 22, 2021
MORSE V. FREDERICK: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Alaskan school officials had not violated the student's freedom of speech rights.

Students’ rights to freedom of speech within schools

Amelia Carlson and Olivia Shirk
December 17, 2020
HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES: Editors Amelia Carlson, Vanessa Lopez, and Olivia Shirk partake in Seasonal Selections episode 2.

Seasonal Selection: Festive Drink Fever

Amelia Carlson, Vanessa Lopez, and Olivia Shirk
December 16, 2020
TRAUMA-SENSITIVE APPROACH: All DGN staff members have been trained in responding to situations with a "trauma-sensitive" approach.

[Photo] ‘You have to name it to tame it”: DGN to become more ‘trauma-sensitive’ amid unprecedented year

Amelia Carlson, Editor-in-Chief
December 16, 2020
BIAS INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN: an infographic outlining the district's approach to handling an incident of racism or marginalization.

[Photo] Students involved in racist social media incident

Sam Bull, Amelia Carlson, and Madeline Schallmoser
December 15, 2020
TUNES: Shawn Mendes works on new music for his upcoming album.

Review: Shawn Mendes: In Wonder

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
November 28, 2020
Rank Choice voting

[Photo] The United States needs to implement a ranked-choice voting system by the next presidential election

Anthony Marsicano, Opinion Editor
November 19, 2020
GROUNDBREAKING: Harry Styles made history as the first solo male to be featured on a cover of Vogue for the December 2020 issue.

Styles’ historical looks and steps toward gender fluidity

Amelia Carlson and Olivia Shirk
November 22, 2020
SOCIALLY DISTANCED WITH ELEMENTARY STUDENTS: Senior Julia Niemiec works with her first-grade students during a lesson.

Introduction to Teaching students learn the importance of flexibility within hybrid schedule

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
November 18, 2020
ACADEMIC AIDES: Apps and Chrome Extensions to help keep students focused during online learning.

Making studying time easier: 6 apps to ensure academic success

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
October 12, 2020

What Homecoming Week activity are you?

Amelia Carlson and Olivia Shirk
October 12, 2020
SHOWTIME: The cast of Snoopy prepare practice choreography during their dress rehearsal.

[Photo] Student Activities amid Covid-19

Maggie Ward, Feature Editor
October 4, 2020
INEFFICIENT: This infographic demonstrates the different ways that fast fashion is environmentally unsustainable.

Sustainable styles: Taking a stand against fast fashion

Olivia Shirk, Photography Editor
September 13, 2020
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